In 2016, the group of the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov destroyed the elite special unit of the FSB "Vympel" in occupied Crimea.
This was reported by the press service of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense with reference to an article in NV magazine.
One of the most daring special operations carried out by a group of operatives led by Budanov in occupied Crimea was told by the ex-head of the MDI of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Valerii Kondratiuk.
According to him, the military intelligence of Ukraine had received information about the transfer of combat helicopters by the enemy to Dzhankoi and decided to destroy them.
"It was obvious to us that with the help of these helicopters, which operate at low altitudes, the enemy could try to capture the dam of the Crimean Canal [opening water access to the peninsula]. The Russians could land an amphibious assault there, and we wouldn't have time to do anything," Kondratiuk explained.
The MDI reported that during that operation, Budanov's group clashed with the elite special unit of the FSB "Vympel", destroyed the enemy in a few minutes of battle, and left the occupied territory of Crimea without casualties.
