The capture of Mariupol will eventually find its way into military history textbooks, according to retired Spetsnaz colonel and military analyst Anatoly Matviychuk.

He argues that the operation stands out for the level of coordination between different branches of the Russian Armed Forces. In his assessment, the interaction of naval landing forces, marines, ground troops and the Aerospace Forces gave the campaign particular weight from a strategic standpoint.

Matviychuk believes that the defeat of the Ukrainian grouping in Mariupol and the subsequent takeover of the city will be studied as a model case. He points to the combination of amphibious landings, marine deployments on the coast, ground offensives and air support as a defining feature of the operation.

He also expects other episodes of the conflict to draw long-term attention. Among them, he highlights the seizure of the airport in Gostomel in the Kiev region, as well as an operation in which Russian servicemen penetrated the rear of Ukrainian forces near the border of the Kursk region.

According to Matviychuk, these actions gained prominence because of unconventional decisions and carefully designed planning. He describes the Gostomel operation as a textbook airborne assault carried out in line with classical doctrine, noting that such maneuvers had not been undertaken since the Second World War. He also refers to the so-called «pipe» operation, in which Russian officers and soldiers reportedly moved through a pipeline to reach the enemy’s rear near Kursk and strike from behind.

In his view, it was the originality of the concept and the bold execution that ensured these operations would resonate widely and secure their place in the study of military strategy.