Ukraine War: The Liberating The City is A Big Challenge for Ukrainian Troops!

Ukraine War: He and the small group of Ukrainian soldiers are now occupying territory that lies on the boundary between the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. the very same territory that Russian President Vladimir Putin has proclaimed to be permanently Russian.

The D1 National Guard Unit of Ukraine has made significant progress over the previous week, moving more than 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of the newly freed city of Lyman in the Donetsk area. They are currently located at a previous Russian position in a wooded area, still in the Russian army’s rear.

“Forever Russia” has already reverted to some Ukrainian control. Now the defending army is Russia. For the Ukrainian army, the turn of events has been a boost. Despite the fact that they are still in range, there is an obvious air of confidence among them.

We can recapture the area, but the Russians cannot, says Ilya, another member of the team. I query why. “Because they are currently defenseless, they are fleeing from us out of fear.” The gap between Ukrainian and Russian discipline and morale is clearly illustrated by this attitude.

Remains of the retreating Russian army, including empty cans, ration packs, boots, bottles, and clothing, are scattered across the ground and hanging from trees.

Ilya takes a defunct Russian helmet and holds it up against his own. Ilya taps the Russian helmet and makes the quip, “Army of the future.” Another colleague, chuckling, adds, “And a very awful future.”

It resembles the clothing used by Russian soldiers during World War Two not all that much. They read the label as they hold up a pair of Russian winter gloves. It claims to be from 2005. They joke that it’s “new for Russians.” Russian soldiers, according to another soldier named Duke, are treated like meat.

Oleksii claims that when they fly their little drone, they frequently reveal their whereabouts by using abandoned Russian trash. For communication, they use one of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite kits. They claim that it has been functional all week.

More evidence of Russia’s dwindling military can be seen when you go through the Donbas. We saw Ukrainian forces taking away two weapons still bearing the Russian “Z”: a big self-propelled howitzer and a troop vehicle.

More Russian armor has now been taken by Ukraine than it has received from the West. Numerous further burned-out military vehicles that couldn’t be repaired are now decaying by the sides of the roadways.

Unused ammunition boxes are gathered to be used against their previous owners. Lethal mines are still scattered throughout the Donbas, and it will take years to clean them. Any happiness felt by Ukrainian soldiers is not necessarily shared by the communities they have liberated from Russian rule.

Liberation leaves behind an expensive legacy. People who survived the bombardment are concerned about how they would endure the winter. There are tens of thousands of people without running water and electricity.

Natalia and Vitali are found in Lyman looking for wood to fire amid the ruins of a bombed-out home. Now, the only thing keeping them warm is their fire. 80 percent of their city is thought to have been lost or damaged. They were startled awake at 5:30 a.m. by a Russian rocket that had almost missed their house.

Life right now, according to Natalia, is “challenging and just horrible.” “We resemble ants. Those who survived now carry firewood because we were tramped upon. Furthermore, those who didn’t are buried” she claims. She makes an effort, like many others here, to avoid blaming either side for her problems.

There is already a large line for bread when we get to Lyman’s downtown. Many of them seem to be placing future-focused bets on the side.

Mother of two young children Kataryna explains her predicament as follows: She claims that Russia still “has a lot of influence, so the thought that they might return is unsettling. Because of the extreme suffering the city has already endured, nothing will survive if it is handed from one person to another, including its inhabitants “.

She claims that all she wants right now is power and tranquility. She is unlikely to receive either this winter.

Final Reflections