Special Forces of the Grand Duke

The famous battle on the Ugra River in 1480—later called the “Standing” (Standoff)—put an end to the Mongol-Tatar yoke and became the first milestone in the formation of an independent Russian state. Military actions lasted for several months across a front broader than for those times—more than 60 versts. No decisive battle ever took place: the end of the confrontation was brought about by the sending of a chosen detachment of the Grand Prince Ivan’s warriors deep into the enemy rear.
Nowadays such a detachment would be called a reconnaissance and sabotage special-forces group… Special Forces! Meanwhile, the Moscow state expanded and grew stronger, acquiring lands and waging continuous wars. And the young družinnik Fyodor Sukhareshev traveled that glorious path with it—from novice to decurion and centurion—fighting, winning, and learning the bitterness of defeats.