Nicolas Tonev (in Zhytomyr), edited by Gauthier Delomez 09:25, March 02, 2022
Faced with the Russian military operation in Ukraine, Ukrainian volunteers are trying to manage the defensive to delay the advance of the troops.
The city of Zhitomir, a large garrison in the northwest of the country, is expecting a major offensive by the Russian army and is preparing as best as possible.
The special envoy of Europe 1 Nicolas Tonev met civilians ready to defend their city.
REPORT
The column of about ten quads sets off, one man-at-arms per machine with a box of ammunition, firmly attached to each hood.
It is the rapid reaction force of volunteers from Zhitomir, this city in northwestern Ukraine that leads to the capital, Kiev.
The city, filled with 7,000 Ukrainian soldiers, is under daily bombardment.
The objective of the volunteer force is to lend a hand on a possible hot spot, such as near the now closed railway station.
The special envoy of Europe 1, Nicolas Tonev, met mobilized Ukrainians.
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Zhitomir, a symbolic city for Putin
Near Zhitomir station, one of the volunteers must hold the Kiev bridge, which spans the tracks towards the capital.
If it is a heavy responsibility, the man is proud of his installation.
"Follow me, I'll take you on a little excursion", he offers to the special envoy of Europe 1. "Here, the sandbags in defense. A little further, the concrete blocks. In these piles of tires, there is also sand. Under these coatings, more sand, and there again, concrete", he lists.
He and his men expect terrible fighting, because the city of Zhitomir is symbolic for Vladimir Putin.
"There is the 95th brigade that Putin promised to destroy, to reduce to nothing", he informs.
"In 2014, these guys from the 95th brigade held Donetsk airport until the end. They did the impossible, they are from Zhitomir, and we are with them."
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Ukrainian resistance to the challenge of Russian airstrikes
On Tuesday evening, Russia settled this account by air.
A precise strike on the garrison was heard and visible throughout the city.
As for the ground battles, Yuri, in his car, warns: "The Russians better not come, I tell you here, it will be their losses."
A few meters from here, a poster and a clear message in Ukrainian sits on a billboard: "Russian boat, fuck you."