Among Ukraine’s Defence Forces, few units are as unique as the Brotherhood battalion of Defence Intelligence. Commanded by Oleksii “Borgese” Serdiuk, this battalion has carried out daring raids in occupied Crimea, Enerhodar and deep within enemy rear areas. These operations demand the highest levels of skill and bravery, as Borgese explains that the toughest task is ensuring each fighter can complete the mission.
One of their most audacious missions involved landing on Crimea’s occupied coastline to destroy a Russian radar hub more than 100 km offshore. As enemy ships closed in, the team found themselves enveloped in dense fog that disabled their GPS. Once the fog lifted and they reached open water, the sun broke through and a sudden thunderstorm rolled in—an event Borgese describes as nothing short of miraculous. He believes such moments of fortune are vital, but cautions that they cannot be relied upon.
These high impact raids serve a double purpose. They raise morale among Ukrainians and force the Russian dictator’s forces to divert substantial troops to coastal defence. After the radar hub strike, significant enemy units were redeployed to guard Crimea’s shores.
Brotherhood fighters have also executed sabotage missions near Enerhodar, where they slipped into enemy observation posts under cover of darkness, and along the front lines in Pokrovsk, where they noted the strength of Russian trench networks and bunkers. Each operation is meticulously planned to minimise reliance on luck, though Borgese admits that “miracles happen regularly—yet you cannot bank on them.”
