“The Russians will crush us”: The bitterness of the Ukrainian soldiers on the Donbas front

For several weeks, the Russian army has launched all its forces to take full control of Donbas in the east of the country. The large city of Severodonetsk is subject to constant Russian bombing. In this most active part of the front, located in the Luhansk region, the Ukrainian army is in retreat. And a movement of discontent is emerging among the soldiers, which complains the lack of resources and support from their hierarchy.

On the heights of Lisichansk, soldiers of the 3rd Brigade of the 20th Infantry Battalion rest after returning from the front. Below you can see the Severski Donets River, a strategic river, difficult to cross and which acts as a natural barrier; further on, plumes of smoke rise over Severodonetsk.

The Ukrainian army describes it as hell on earth: “The Russians bomb and fire mortars The 24 hours of the day. It is a non stop. When you put your men there, after two minutes of fighting, you already have a lot of wounded that you need to evacuate. The new ones arrive and within minutes they are deadsays a Ukrainian soldier.

imbalance of forces

According to various sources, Ukrainians are fighting outside the now Russian-controlled city. Retreating soldiers, mainly due to the imbalance of forces between the two sides.

Sergeant Roman Ilchenko, 32, explains that “the Russians they have artillery, armored vehicles, and their forces are five to six times greater“. Faced with this firepower, Ukrainians are bitterly aware of the weakness of their strengths.

Volodymyr Kharchuk, 33, a member of the 20th Battalion, recounts his last mission in which he was in charge of protect the withdrawal of airborne troops.

“We only had machine guns and AK47s. 1986 grenade launcher. A 1943 Degtyaryov machine gun. And a 1933 Maxim machine gun. And we also have a Swedish NLAW portable anti-tank missile, but the battery was not working. This is all we had. “

He further claimed that none of his men had received night vision goggles, not even a pair of binoculars. “We had to bring models from home that are often used for hunting,” says Volodymyr Kharchuk.

The mission you describe it ended badly. With the airborne troops pulled out, the men of the 3rd Brigade headed for the bridge over the river, but this was destroyed.

Soldiers say they had to cross on foot, fight against a strong current.

“Our equipment is heavy. So we use our ropes to pass. All of this under the fire of mortars. Our evacuation was a success. But knowing we were across the river, the command accused us of being deserters. They threatened us with jail. But it was they who ordered us to leave the city, “explains Volodymyr Kharchuk.

He adds that their superiors later denied having ordered them to leave Severodonetsk.

Illogical orders

A member of the same unit, Roman Ilchenko, said he had received a new post. Defend the last bridge connecting Severodonetsk and Lisichansk. An order that, for him, it does not make sense.

“It’s officially to keep the Russians out. Except the bridge it is already destroyed. There is no point in defending it. Russians can try to cross the river to any other place where it is shallow. My men are ready to fight, but we need equipment and artillery. Our soldiers are not demoralized, they want to fight. But we no longer believe in our superiors, “she says bitterly.

“We fight with patriotism and this is not enough to defend ourselves from such firepower”, adds the commander of the “bat”.

“The Russians will crush us”

Faced with such means deployed by the Russians, the men are unanimous: Severodonetsk is already lost and it is necessary at all costs.

Andrei Shevchenko, a 39-year-old soldier, believes that if the Ukrainian army does not strengthen its artillery, you won’t be able to do anything.

“We can’t fight with AK47s alone. The Russians will crush us. They bomb us from the air, with mortars, we cannot defend ourselves with Kalashnikovs alone or short-range rocket launchers.

Will the Ukrainian army lose the battle of Severodonetsk? “The city is already lost”, the soldier sadly replies. According to him, if nothing changesthe whole Donbas will fall sooner or later in the hands of the Russians.

By Sébastien Németh and Jad El Khoury, special envoys of RFI in Ukraine