Ukrainian troops arrive at the gates of Kherson, the largest city in the southeast of the country under Russian occupation, since last March. The battle is tough, acknowledged Ukrainian officials, as the armed forces try to encircle this strategic lock still in the hands of the Russians who evacuated part of the population of Kherson.
With our special envoys, Anastasia Becchio and Boris Vicith
At the entrance to the base of the 63rd motorized infantry brigade, under a cloudy sky, soldiers are preparing to leave for the southern front. Like all other officers or privates, Lieutenant Oleg Zelinski has no right to reveal the details of the Kherson counter-offensive. The Minister of Defense acknowledged that the terrain and the weather made operations more delicate. We will have to do with the bad weather, confirms the lieutenant.
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” Yes, it’s more complicated with the rain and all that, but it’s complicated for everyone. The Russian and Ukrainian positions are 1.2 km apart. We all have the same weather, but in reality, I think it can even be an advantage for us, because we are motivated, our men know what they are fighting for, whereas the mobilized opposite, he will ask his bosses: but why do I have to freeze here, damn it he says.
The mobilized have arrived
Russian soldiers recently mobilized, the brigade of Oleg Zelinski has precisely had to do with it. “ There were Russian tank positions that we hadn’t been able to locate precisely for three months, continues the lieutenant. But the mobilized arrived. The fools, they started moving around at night with flashlights. That’s how we spotted them. In fact, it’s a blessing that they filled up with fools… »
Soldiers for many without experience mobilized after a series of setbacks. They would be 230,000, according to the count of the Russian authorities.