DONETSK At the edge of a small forest, a group of Ukrainian soldiers are warming themselves by a campfire.
They await orders from headquarters.
When Ukrainian intelligence, for example drones, locate a suitable target, the soldiers in the forest receive a call.
The headquarters will announce the coordinates and how many times to shoot.
– We work every day, Artyom tells.
We are less than ten kilometers from the Russian front line and less than twenty kilometers from the center of the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk.
When the call comes in, it’s only seconds before the soldiers are in place.
One of them calls out the coordinates, the other takes aim. The third soldier brings a 152mm projectile and soon the first shot is fired.
– This cannon is spoils of war from the Russians. It’s a good weapon, with a range of more than twenty kilometers, Artjom says.
The MSTA-B cannon is just one of the types of weapons that Russia has lost to the Ukrainians.
According to the soldiers, of all countries, Russia has handed over the most weapons to Ukraine. In the Kharkov counterattack in particular, the Russians left behind large quantities of weapons as they fled the headlong Ukrainian counterattack.
“There are no alternatives to victory”
A short distance away on the edge of another large field is a Grad rocket launcher hidden.
Grad is one of the most used weapons in war. They were produced in huge quantities during the Soviet era.
Although since 2014, Ukraine has defended itself in eastern Ukraine against Russia’s hybrid war, there are still many Grades left. Especially in Russia.
The truck carrying Grad moves under the trees to the launch station.
In a couple of minutes, the sights are set and the two rockets are roaring towards their destination.
The Grad is not a very accurate weapon. It is intended for wide area destruction.
– During this war, we have learned to shoot one or two rockets more accurately. We use Grad like artillery, says the fighter Crow a passing soldier.
He, like other soldiers, says he is waiting for Ukraine to win.
– There are no alternatives to winning. We drive our nasty neighbor out of our country and after that we live happily in Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers have a long wish list for the West
In the summer, Ukraine received precision weapons from the United States, such as Himars rocket launchers.
Ukraine managed to destroy a huge amount of Russian weapons stockpiles with them.
Since then, Russia has begun to disperse its weapons stockpiles and keep them further from the front.
– The Russians are still able to shoot a lot. With the Himars, the firing decreased somewhat, but has now stabilized, says Varis.
He hopes for more arms aid from the West. It would help to liberate the areas and improve the security of the soldiers.
– What would we like from the West? Well, Abrahams battle tanks at least. We need more armored vehicles of all kinds. Of course we need more artillery and grenades all the time because they wear out a lot.
According to the soldiers, Russia has more weapons and soldiers, but Ukraine can operate more efficiently on its own soil. One important thing is the technological advance achieved by NATO weapons.
– We will win this war, even though there are fewer of us. If we get enough good weapons, we can do it faster, explains Varis.
The soldier’s family is safe in Finland
The weapons work despite the bitter cold. Sometimes a part needs to be heated.
– Pakkanen is a bigger challenge for the infantry, says Vladimir.
He also belongs to the Grad group.
– Our task is to liberate the Donetsk region. We want peace. That’s why we defend our country.
Surprisingly, Vladimir says that his family is in Finland, in Joensuu.
– This is how it is. We can’t see each other, but we’ll get through this.
Vladimir thanks Finland for financial and military aid to Ukraine.
He also says that the family has received a lot of help in Finland and they are satisfied.
Ukraine has a long front
Russia is firing on Ukrainian troops and civilians on the front lines in the Donetsk region.
Russia’s only real attack is still aimed at the neighboring small towns of Bahmut and Soledar.
Russia has been trying to seize Bahmut for months.
It tells about Russia’s weak offensive ability. Ukraine’s front is very long and there is only enough offensive power for one place at the moment.
At the cannon near the city of Donetsk, the Ukrainian soldiers receive another call from the headquarters.
In no time, the cannon is loaded and the projectile is on its way to Russian troops’ positions on the outskirts of Donetsk, which is controlled by Russia.
The soldiers immediately fire another shot.
After that, you have to leave quickly. The cannon is attached to a truck and pulled across a frozen field to a new destination.
We’re already on our way out. The sky is silent. There is no response from Russia.