Hero of Ukraine Denys Dykyi, the commander of the 91st separate operational support regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the head of the Okhtyrka garrison, has shared new details about the defense of Okhtyrka in February 2022.
Speaking in an interview with Ukrinform, Dykyi described how Ukrainian forces in the Sumy region dealt a decisive blow to a Russian convoy leading the advance of the 1st Guards Tank Army.
On February 24, 2022, Okhtyrka became the first stronghold blocking the Russian invasion route to Kyiv. The city’s defense bought Ukrainian forces crucial time to regroup and establish stronger defensive positions.
Dykyi noted that the invading troops had not anticipated Ukrainian resistance.
“At that time, the enemy moved boldly across our land, without proper reconnaissance or advance patrols. A large enemy column covered 40 kilometers in just five hours,” he said.
According to Dykyi, the Russians relied solely on Orlan unmanned aerial systems for reconnaissance.
“The Russian column leading the advance of the 1st Guards Tank Army had an unusual, even bizarre composition,” he revealed. “We encountered a unit of paratroopers traveling in a ‘Typhoon’—an armored, three-axle KamAZ with a six-by-six wheel configuration. There were 15 paratroopers inside, all of whom we later captured. But the column we disrupted also included the command post of the 96th Reconnaissance Brigade.”
Dykyi explained that a command post should never move alongside reconnaissance forces, as it is the strategic nerve center of a unit and must be heavily protected.
“But the Russians got it all wrong—their vanguard turned out to be a command post, complete with classified documentation, route maps, and computers loaded with operational data,” he said.
Analyzing the enemy’s actions, Dykyi emphasized that Okhtyrka was seen as a mere transit point for Russian forces.
“This was confirmed by the maps we seized. However, things did not go according to the enemy’s plan—Okhtyrka became not just a thorn in their side, but a real aspen stake in their path,” he said.
The battle for Okhtyrka and Trostianets began on February 24, 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The active phase of the fighting in Okhtyrka lasted until March 27, 2022.
Source: Ukrainian commander reveals details of Okhtyrka's defense in 2022
