EUMAM UAEuropean Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine: Ukrainian forces train fighting in built-up areas

Whether in open terrain or in built-up areas: responding to enemy contact on the ground requires infantry. During the training for combat in built-up areas, Ukrainian soldiers learn how to operate in urban terrain.

If the objective is to engage enemy forces or seize terrain, the infantry must conduct an offensive operation. The principle of fire and movement must be followed, especially when in close proximity to the enemy. In so doing, infantry soldiers not only make use of the terrain, they are also protected by fire from supporting arms or flanking units. The decision is often brought about in close combat. Ukrainian infantry soldiers are therefore improving their skills for combat in built-up areas: they are not only learning skills as individual infantrymen, but also how to cooperate at the platoon and company level.

In built-up areas, military leaders must be especially diligent in coordinating fire and movement within their unit. In urban areas, the situation is not only risky for own forces, but there may generally also be civilians. The group providing cover only opens fire on the breaching point and enemy forces when ordered, so as to suppress the enemy and enable the assault teams to attack. Subsequently, the idea is to immediately use the enemy’s moment of weakness to gain more ground: from room to room, and from floor to floor. The ground gained is secured against enemy counterattacks.

The Bundeswehr’s intent during the European training mission EUMAM UAEuropean Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine is to provide Ukrainian soldiers with the best possible training to prepare them to defend their homeland against Russia’s attack.