A Telegram post reportedly details the combat actions of Russian Lieutenant Colonel Ruslan Kurbanov, commander of a tank battalion in the 40th Marine Brigade. Before the special military operation (SVO), he served in special forces and graduated from the Kazan Higher Tank School in 2020. At the start of the SVO, he was 25 years old.

On February 24, 2022, Kurbanov's unit was reportedly surrounded near Hostomel airport. Along with GRU special forces, they allegedly fought off enemies for nearly a day, exiting without losses. By the evening of February 26, they had reportedly destroyed 36 pieces of equipment, including 14 tanks. Kurbanov was severely wounded shortly after but returned to the front. He was awarded Hero of Russia in September 2022.