Reportage
Faced with Western weapons, in the Donbass the pro-Russian artillery has adapted
Audio 01:43
Infantry soldiers on a pro-Russian position opposite Avdiivka in the Donetsk region.
© Anissa el-Jabri/RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Faced with new weapons delivered by the West, the supremacy of Russian and pro-Russian forces in artillery remained patent, particularly in the fighting raging in Donetsk, one of the two regions of the Donbass basin.
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From our special correspondent in the Donetsk region,
Anissa El-Jabri
On this position, a few hundred meters from the Ukrainian fortress town of Avdiivka, he is called Max.
He is the deputy commander of one of the pro-Russian separatist army companies in Donetsk.
Sitting in the shelter next to him, one of his men lunches on mashed potatoes and meatballs.
Two others carefully study a plastic card.
Max assures him: the new Western artillery equipment in the hands of the Ukrainians, he has seen it at work for a long time: "
Since May-June approximately, I cannot tell you with certainty when, but I I noticed, and I was not the only one, that the enemy artillery had started to work differently.
At first we did not understand what the enemy was using, since they themselves do not produce this type of weapon, it was clearly something new.
»
Adapt to the new equipment of the Ukrainians
Constant firefights, splinters everywhere, broken tree trunks and branches inflamed by gunfire in the woods… and a strict instruction: bypass the slightest tuft of grass lost on the cracked asphalt.
In question: the risk of stepping on a missile fragment that would not be visible there.
Vigilance is at all times, but here, we claim to have largely adapted to the new equipment of the camp opposite, including with the support of the infantry in the front line: “
It happens very quickly.
If the guys on the front line have seen where the flash is coming from or hear the sound, they quickly relay communications to headquarters.
There, they have a map in front of their eyes.
They look quickly and direct the artillery to the designated points.
»
Everyone here repeats this phrase: “
Artillery is the god of war
”.
Russian and pro-Russian forces retain overwhelming control of the skies anyway.
In the region, it is not uncommon to see combat aircraft flying at low altitude.
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Russia
Defense
Ukraine