Battleground 384. Hubris at the Gates: The Fall of Russia's Elite
Mar 25, 2026
A field report from Kharkiv, Bucha and Hostomel that traces the chaotic opening hours of the 2022 invasion. Intense urban fights and a 13-hour siege at a school feature heavily. The daring airborne assault on Antonov airport and the collapse of elite Russian units are explored. Visits to cemeteries and ruined sites show the human and material cost of the fighting.
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Spetsnaz Last Stand At School 134
- The 2nd Guard Spetsnaz spearheaded the Kharkiv assault and, after coming under unexpected fire, retreated into School 134 where they endured a 13-hour siege.
- Eyewitnesses said dozens of elite Spetsnaz fought to the last and the building later exploded after a gas line was hit.
Hubris And Respect In Urban Siege
- The siege ended not by surrender but via catastrophic miscalculation when Ukrainian shelling hit a gas main, causing a conflagration that likely killed remaining attackers.
- Julius Strauss relates locals' view that the Spetsnaz's refusal to surrender mixed hatred with grudging respect for their defence.
Hostomel Air Assault And Ukrainian Counterattack
- Russian VDV paratroopers landed at Hostomel in ~30 helicopters aiming to secure the airfield as a bridgehead for an assault on Kyiv.
- Ukrainians counterattacked, retook the airfield by evening, and pictures show Ukrainian flags and soldiers celebrating the temporary recapture.