It has now been five weeks since Ukraine launched its major counter-offensive to retake Russian-held territories, but progress has been slower than expected. Report within the 35th Marine Brigade in the Donetsk region.
The unit is stationed north of the city of Avdiivka, almost directly in front of the Russians. “We’re not making any progress, neither are they,” said Maksim, a soldier in the 35th Infantry Brigade, on Wednesday, July 12. At the moment the situation is stable, but in the last few days they have intensified their attacks with more and more numerous attacks. ” The major counter-offensive promised by Kiev began more than five weeks ago, but advances by Ukrainian troops are poor and slow. The war is finally moving to the Eastern Front.
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Drone and jamming system
On the Ukrainian side, every attack begins with the use of a reconnaissance drone. Igor controls the machine, very concentrated over his remote control. “The drone is about two miles from here. I could go further, but they are using a jamming system.” The soldier shows a dot on the device: “Here are the enemy trenches”.
Maksim and Andreï with their drone’s control panel. (GILLES GALLINARO / RADIO FRANCE)
This drone transmits the GPS coordinates of the target. Then simply load a grenade into the mortar tube and fire. “We are coming so that they do not forget us!” Then you have to wait for the enemy’s reply. The grenade arrives but accidentally crashes several hundred yards away.
A soldier from the 35th Marines Brigade prepares to launch a reconnaissance drone towards enemy lines. (ISABELLE LABEYRIE / RADIO FRANCE)
“Very old” hardware in some units
In the neighboring unit, the mortar is more rudimentary. The soldiers even say, laughing, that it is from WWII. “It’s true that it’s very old, we had to weld the viewfinder because it was constantly out of alignment.”
Ukrainian mortar fire on Russian positions near Avdiivka. (GILLES GALLINARO / RADIO FRANCE)
For more than a year, tinkering around on this front without ever seeing any real progress, the soldiers’ morale has sometimes dropped. But the one who calls himself Barça, like the football club, refuses to give up. “We can’t get enough of it. Do you know why? Because we want to win. We never get tired of it. You know that behind you is your family, Ukraine, which is your homeland.”
“There are so many people who are dead, there is no turning back.”
Barça, soldier of the 35th Infantry Brigade
at franceinfo
Units of the 35th Infantry Brigade are restricted from firing more than twenty shells per day and expect supplies of additional ammunition from the West.
Ukrainian soldiers of the 35th Infantry Brigade face “Russian attacks” on the Eastern Front
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