In an exclusive report from eastern Ukraine, Sky News has been granted rare access to a vast, secret underground military base used as a headquarters by one of the country's most effective combat units.
A Hidden Warren Beneath the Battlefield
The subterranean complex, a labyrinth of war rooms, living quarters, and facilities, has been home to the 1st Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine since the summer. Journalists are almost never permitted entry, but the unit's imminent relocation provided a unique opportunity for a glimpse inside before it is vacated.
Soldiers operating from this clandestine location are so cautious about security that they change into civilian clothing before stepping outside to avoid drawing any attention. The base, located in the Donbas region, contains a dormitory, kitchen, canteen, and a makeshift gym, forming a vital nerve centre for operations.
"Our Task Is To Hit Them As Hard As Possible"
Sky News spoke with the unit's chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Arsen Dimitric, known by his call sign Lemko. Seated at a large table covered with a map of the Donbas, the officer, who has fought Russia since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, outlined the brutal reality of the fighting around the frontline city of Pokrovsk.
"We aim to destroy as much of the enemy as possible," Lemko stated. "Will we take losses? Yes. Will it hurt? Absolutely." He argued that allowing Russian advances would lead to greater Ukrainian suffering, pointing to Moscow's reliance on numerical superiority. "Their only advantage is numbers. They don't care how many people they lose," he said.
He provided a stark assessment of Russian losses in this sector alone, claiming that between August and November 2025, nearly 17,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded. Ukrainian battlefield footage reviewed by Sky News showed Russian armoured vehicles and even soldiers on motorbikes being struck by drones and artillery.
Lemko framed the intense combat as essential for strengthening Ukraine's diplomatic position, particularly in light of reported US draft peace proposals that suggested ceding territory. "Simply giving it away isn't the way," he asserted. "Our job as soldiers is to give as many advantages as possible to our negotiating team." This stance aligns with comments from Ukraine's armed forces chief, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who told Sky News that surrendering land would be "unacceptable".
A Stark Warning for Europe
Beyond the immediate conflict, Colonel Lemko issued a direct caution to the rest of Europe regarding hybrid attacks attributed to Moscow, including mysterious drones, sabotage, and cyber hacks.
He drew a direct line from Ukraine's experience to current events, suggesting that failing to counter such sub-threshold warfare could lead to full-scale conflict. "Ukraine once lost a hybrid war that had been waged since the very start of our independence," Lemko explained. "Because of that defeat, there was a physical operation against us in Crimea and then a physical operation in 2022."
He warned that this hybrid campaign has now reached its climax and is expanding westward. "It is moving into the Baltic States and Europe. Now is the moment for all countries to unite and counter this hybrid war. Because the consequence may be a physical one," he concluded, urging a unified response before it is too late.
