Jrap He admits that his lifelong friends can no longer understand him. He also didn’t understand soldiers until he was one. He has just returned to the world with his comrades in arms, Japanese And Burik. All three survived … almost two months in a row in position on the Zaporizhia front. All three have the fatigue of brutal conflict reflected on their faces. Their eyes are wide open. His gaze is covered with a patina of constant alert and his commander, present, praises his good work.
It is they, along with thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, who daily contain an enemy with more men and resources. An enemy hungry for domination.
Jrap is 47 years old and worked in the manufacturing of car seats in Zaporizhzhia. Japanese, 42 years old, arrived from Lvivin the west of the country, and he was a mechanic. Burik, a factory worker, is also over 40 years old. That’s the average age of the Ukrainian army and most of the recruits who will soon join its ranks.
The soldiers arrived at their position on September 18, at the end of summer. They return with the first snowflakes in mid-December. “Before, it was unthinkable for a soldier to spend more than ten days in one position,” explains Jrap, a soldier with the 65th Velykyi Luh Mechanized Brigade. But the war changed a lot and very quickly.
“The main thing is to avoid unnecessary exposure. And if you do, an attack will surely occur. Last year there were fewer drones. And it was easier. But now there are simply too many. They fly to the most remote places. Even if ours work there too,” explains the soldier.
The scourge of deadly flying machines defeats all types of movement in what is known as the “death zone”. An area that extends 20 kilometers from the front lines themselves towards the interior. Exiting or entering a position is perhaps one of the riskiest operations today.
Rotations, the military emphasize, are complex and very weather dependent. In fog, for example, drones work less well. “They inform us that we will leave on a certain day. But they can’t release you that day. Because of the drones, because of everything, because of the bombings. And we understand that completely. The important thing is to make it out alive,” emphasizes Jrap.
Russian thrust
The Zaporizhia Front had remained relatively stable until recently. In recent weeks, the Russians have managed to progress. On November 12, the Southern Defense Forces, a group that coordinates brigades operating in the area, reported the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from several villages.
Enemy firepower, as well as continued assaults, prevented the defenders from maintaining their positions. A day later, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskywent there to discuss with commanders the strengthening of defenses.
A drone flies over the group of recruits from the 65th Brigade undergoing training (first image). Their arrival coincides with the return of soldiers returning from the front, such as Jrap, Japones and Burik, who take the opportunity to rest (second image). Some of the recruits, like Abuelo, are 51 years old (third image)
The characteristics of the terrain and the chronic lack of personnel, as well as the poor coordination of commands – as some analysts of the country have pointed out – favored the invader.
“Zaporizhia is a steppe. These are open areas with elevated terrain. Whoever is at the top controls all access to the front line. We have our own whims, determined by terrain and now largely dependent on enemy drones. That’s why it’s so difficult here. There is no shelter,” he told ABC. Serhii Evgenovichpress officer of the 65th Brigade.
505
square kilometers
This is Ukrainian territory captured by invading forces in November, according to ‘DeepState’
The “DeepState” analyst group points out that Kremlin forces managed to occupy some 505 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in November. 40% of this progress was concentrated in the Huliaipole region of the Zaporizhia region.
The invading forces continue to coalesce around the town of Huliaipole. A node that connects with the west of the province of Donetsk and facilitates entry into the interior of Zaporizhzhia. Its control by Ukraine will prevent the defenders from having to further disperse forces lacking troops and suffering from desertions.
New recruits
The explosion raises black smoke over a group of recruits crawling on the ground. just burst a grenade training. Once again, everyone is operational. Some people have trouble keeping up. They advance a few meters then find themselves face to face; They then crouch or try to hide. A drone flies over the heads of the new arrivals and the instructors fire into the air, calling out to the future soldiers.
The idea is to replicate a real combat situation they will face in about two months. “You have to do this so that the person understands what awaits them. We also teach them to differentiate the different types of drones by their sound. We teach, let’s say, different methods to escape, save your life or help your companions,” he emphasizes. Endsthe military instructor.
On “day zero”, many people still do not have a nom de guerre. The majority arrived at the brigade after being mobilized. Andrei He is poor in words. At 29, fear and distrust seem to have settled in his eyes. His family is in the occupied zone. He doesn’t want to be in the photos and admits he’s scared. “I preferred to be at home, I suppose,” he gives up.
ofshort for grandfather in Ukrainian, is 51 years old. He waits near a tree for a moment of rest. He has trouble keeping up and complains that the vest doesn’t fit him well while showing his stomach. Ded laughed for a moment. And he ends the conversation by saying that “God will help. “Everyone has a plan for their final journey.”
Ukrainian army
“My mother said she wasn’t happy at all, but she supported my decision to enlist. “I’m an adult.”
Tanya
Volunteer of the 65th Brigade
SerhiiOn the contrary, he seems more animated than most of his colleagues. He was a miner from Mirnograd, in the Dombas. He’s not impressed by the practice explosions. He had to feel themthe real ones, when he was still a civilian. “I hope that this war will end soon, that no one will die and that the animals will not suffer,” he adds with a smile.
Stand out among them Tanyathe only woman in the group, 20 years old. She volunteered to defend a house that Russia has already razed in the occupied part of the Zaporizhia region. “My mother said she wasn’t happy at all, but she supported my decision. “I’m an adult,” he said with a smile.
“The defense remains”
The 65th Brigade is in charge of defense around another key point of the Zaporizhia Front: Orijiv. “The situation is complex, but controllable. We see how the enemy concentrates its forces, provides resources, equipment and personnel. Fortunately, we have built a very powerful and stratified defense,” he emphasizes. Serhiithe officer of the 65th.
“We sow minefields, using drones and long-range artillery to prevent them from reaching the contact line. This is why we were able to repel all attacks. Concretely, over the last 24 hours, we have suffered five enemy attacks,” adds the soldier.
Ukrainian army
“We do not want to cede territory because we understand that, in any case, we will have no guarantee”
Serhii
Officer of the 65th brigade
The war continues alongside diplomacy which, as on the front, is also complex. The most problematic point for the invaded country is the transfer of territories to Donetsk demanded by the United States and Russia. “If a world-renowned politician said to your country: ‘Let’s give Catalonia to someone else because they want it,’ what would you think?” » asks Serhii. “We do not want to cede territory because we understand that, in any case, we will have no guarantee,” predicts the officer.
Civilians and soldiers want an end to the war, but almost no one is willing to capitulate to Moscow’s maximalist demands. What the Russians have failed to take by force of arms, they intend to do through negotiations. Fatigue takes its toll, but the honor of the Ukrainians obliges. Jrap is clear: “We can only remain firm. In the end, it all depends on one person. “The one behind the Kremlin walls.”
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