As the first anniversary of the invasion of their country approaches, Ukrainians fear another major Russian offensive. Moscow might want to attack before Western arms deliveries arrive on the front lines. In the Donbass, the fighting is extremely violent for the capture of Bakhmout. In the south, in Odessa, far from the front, the situation is calmer, even if the port city is regularly targeted by missiles or drones Shahidsuch as Friday, February 10.
With our special correspondents in Odessa, Anastasia Becchio And Boris Vicith
Families have lunch quietly in a restaurant. In Odessa, war seems far away. While sipping a caramel latte, Anastasia Kovalevska-Slavova, professor of philology, consults on her phone the latest news from the front. His friend is fighting there right now. She keeps her spirits up.
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” I have so much confidence in our armed forces that I sleep in pajamas, whereas for the first few months I slept fully clothed and even on shoes. While here, I have complete confidence “, she says.
Volodymyr Dugin, reservist in territorial defense is more worried. He recently attended the funeral of one of his military trainers, killed near Kherson. ” The Russian army will probably launch a major offensive. Of course, we believe in winning, but at what cost? We would like the promised material to arrive as soon as possiblebecause opposite, there are really more of them “, he explains.
The army is still recruiting
The Ukrainian army is also continuing to recruit, observes Peter Obukhov, municipal deputy. ” In the city, there are soldiers who hand out summonses to the men and some of these men no longer dare go out into the street. This mobilization process has intensified, because it must be said that the Russian tactic of sending thousands of people to the butchery also forces us to strengthen our ranks “, he laments. To cope with the shortage of soldiers, the Ukrainian Rada extended martial law for three months.
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