A Ukrainian soldier who took part in the battles on the east bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region has told Britain for the BBC about the difficulties he experienced at the front.
According to the BBC, several hundred Ukrainian soldiers have managed to land on the east bank of the river during the counterattack that started in the summer. However, Russia still has a huge superiority in men and weapons in the region.
A Ukrainian soldier tells the BBC that he spent several weeks on the east bank of the Dnieper when Ukraine tried to establish a new bridgehead around the village of Krynky. The man’s story gives a dark and chaotic picture of the battles along the river.
– River crossings are fired upon all the time. I’ve seen my comrades’ boats just disappear into the water after being hit.
According to the man, there is no transport equipment, so the soldiers have to manually carry all the equipment transported across the river. This equipment includes everything from power generators, fuel and modification.
The soldier says that the Ukrainian troops made a serious miscalculation when crossing the river.
– We thought that the enemy would flee after our arrival, and that after that we could safely move the equipment across the river. However, that did not happen.
– When we landed, the enemy was waiting for us. The Russians we captured later said that they had been informed in advance of our plans and knew exactly where to expect. They used all weapons against us, such as artillery, mortars and flamethrowers. I didn’t think I would make it out alive.
The frosts are coming
The soldier says that the Ukrainians were hiding for several days, trapped in the woods near Krynky. At the same time, Russian drones swarmed over their positions.
– Maintenance was the weakest link in the chain. Russia monitored our supply transports, and supply deliveries became more difficult. There was a real shortage of drinking water.
According to a soldier interviewed by the BBC, the soldiers had to pay for extra equipment themselves, such as warm clothes.
– The frosts are coming, and the situation will become even more difficult. The real situation at the front is kept quiet so that no one makes a big deal about changing it.
According to the soldier, no one currently knows what Ukraine’s goals are in Kherson. According to him, many soldiers feel that the country’s military leadership has abandoned them.
– They feel that our presence has mostly political significance. However, we only do our work and do not think about strategic issues.
The lack of manpower is slowing down the operation in Ukraine
According to the BBC, due to Ukraine’s actions, Russia has had to commit more soldiers from the Zaporizhia region to Kherson than before.
The company’s Russian-language editorial recently interviewed Dneprjoki in the Zaporizhia region a supervising Russian, who said that going to Kherson was a “suicide mission” for Russian soldiers. According to the man, Russia has lost many men in unsuccessful attempts to make the Ukrainians retreat from the eastern bank of the river.
The Ukrainian army, on the other hand, wants to attack Russian supply lines and make the Russians retreat, so that the civilians living on the west side of the river do not have to fear Russian artillery fire. According to the BBC, this means that both sides will suffer heavy losses in the fighting.
– Most of the crew losses were due to mistakes. One didn’t throw himself into the ditch in time, the other had bad terrain. If the concentration breaks, fire will immediately come from all directions.
Even the battles of the Dnieper River have become a battle of attrition. That is why Ukraine now desperately needs additional reinforcements to the front.
– It was intended to send several brigades here instead of individual companies. We simply do not have enough men, a Ukrainian soldier tells the BBC.
According to the man, there are many young men among the soldiers who have little training or combat experience. According to him, all volunteers were already recruited at the beginning of the war.
– Now the young people who don’t avoid being called up are coming to the front. This may sound funny, but some Marines can’t even swim.
– This is a complete nightmare. A year ago I wouldn’t have said this, but I’ve had enough.
Escape from hell
The village of Krynky, located on the east bank of the Dnieper, has been completely destroyed in the fighting. Nevertheless, Ukraine continues to defend its new bridgehead position.
– I was sidelined after getting a concussion after a mine exploded. One of my comrades in arms did not survive. Only the helmet remained.
– I feel like I managed to escape from hell, but the people who replaced us had it even harder. The next cycle is approaching. Soon it will be my turn to cross the river again.
The Ukrainian army has refused to comment on the Kherson operation to the BBC citing the safety of the soldiers.