A game that in civilian life is perceived as entertainment becomes a tool for preparation for real combat in the military. In the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar”, paintball is used to train infantrymen and assault groups.

This is reported in a publication on the brigade’s page.

The photos show fighters of the Alcatraz Battalion. Former convicts who signed contracts with the Armed Forces of Ukraine are undergoing combat training through the simulation of assault actions and repelling attacks.

Training scenarios are as close as possible to real combat episodes: movement in small groups, operations in built-up areas, assaulting positions, covering fire, and interaction in a dynamic environment. Pneumatic paint markers make it possible not just to “play”, but to record mistakes — every hit is immediately visible.

The brigade emphasizes that this format allows key skills to be practiced without risk to life — initiative, teamwork, proper communication, composure under pressure, and the ability to make decisions while on the move.

After each training session, a detailed debrief is conducted. It is at this stage that weak points are identified and corrected while still at the training range — before fighters find themselves in real combat.

In “Kholodnyi Yar”, they stress that the goal of such training is not to imitate war, but to prepare for it. Here, paint replaces blood so that there are fewer mistakes in real battle.