WHILE Ukraine is busy ironing out the details of its planned spring offensive, the world has been granted a rare glimpse of a top-secret commando unit crushing Russia's military might.
The elite border force, known as the D.O.Z.O.R unit, is made up of the country's cream of the crop who specialise in clandestine missions.
Top brass form the formidable squad by recruiting the finest men from their militarised State Border Guard service.
And some superhuman civilians who pass the gruelling entry tests that challenge your fitness, strength and skill, also make it in.
The DOZOR unit, which is officially named the 10th Mobile Border Detachment, patrols Ukraine's extensive borders while carrying out covert operations.
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President Zelenksy's safety is said to be their number one responsibility when he heads on trips away from Kyiv amid fears the Kremlin has stuck a target on his back.
The squad are assigned high-stakes tasks by the State Border Service, which typically require a ruthless armed response, the Daily Mail reports.
The tough troops have been instrumental in staving off the Russian advance, but have snubbed public glory for the sake of privacy.
But bombshell footage of the top-secret squad has now emerged online, offering a sneak peek of their efforts to topple Vladimir Putin's shoddy invasion.
The DOZOR unit, founded in 2002, makes up a fraction of Ukraine's nearly 53,000-strong border force, which boasts 45,000 military personnel.
The unit is rarely checking travel documents, as they are instead preoccupied with fending off Russian invaders.
A dramatic video showing off their capabilities on land, sea and air has now been shared online to mark the 22nd anniversary of the founding of the unit on April 5.
Documenting their incredible skill and terrifying arsenal of weapons, the DOZOR special forces proved why they are put on a pedastal.
It captured some of their extraordinary exploits in military-grade vehicles as well as on foot - and on the frontline.
Soldiers are understood to be trained to do battle on various terrains, including underwater, as well as in complete darkness.
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The clip showed the commando unit conducting training exercises with night vision goggles, laser sights, helicopters and boats.
One squaddie was seen smashing in a car window, while another spectacularly fired a rifle underwater.
DOZOR troops are rumoured to have been backed and even trained by the US before Russia launched the full-scale invasion.
They are said to have received hordes of donations of tactical equipment as well as a maritime patrol craft, according to risk intelligence firm Sibylline.
The company states that the Ukrainian fighting force have played a vital role in preventing people smuggling across the border, after a boom in human trafficking since the war began.
"As such, they likely play a key role in preventing organised criminal groups from smuggling military-aged men out of Ukraine to avoid conscription," they said.
"Given the attritional nature of the fighting in the East and the growing need for manpower, these operations will likely remain of increasing importance as conscription avoidance remains an enduring issue."
The DOZOR unit last launched a recruitment drive in 2018 to bolster Ukraine's defenses - especially along its eastern borders with Russia.
Details of their operations are a state secret, but some clips released online have shown the unit taking part in the bloody battle for Bakhmut.
The elite special forces are said to have held out for three hours in the crumbling city before being forced to pull back.
It is thought that Ukraine will be relying on DOZOR troops to fortify its defence as the devastating war rages on.
They have seemingly fared better on the battlefield than Putin's Spetsnaz forces, who have suffered a staggering 95 per cent casualty rate.
The no-nonsense soldiers are known for their ruthlessness, but have dramatically been taken down a peg by the embarrassing leak.
The troops - who endure around four years of tough training - reportedly suffered "significant losses" after being roped in to back up infantry soldiers.
It marks a huge blow for Moscow, as US officials say it could take up to a decade to replenish the depleted special forces squad.
