Ukraine: near Kupiansk, "at the moment, we are in a defensive position"
Audio 01:22
Yuri Dubovik, from the 92nd brigade in the Kupyansk region.
© Boris Vichith / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Saturday, February 18, the Russian army claimed the capture of a locality in the Kharkiv region, a region which had been liberated at the end of the summer.
No confirmation from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The latter claim that the locality in question, north of Kupiansk, remains disputed in what constitutes a gray area between the two fronts.
In recent weeks, Russian troops have gone on the offensive in this region of north-eastern Ukraine, where our special envoys have visited.
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With our special correspondents in eastern Ukraine,
Anastasia Becchio
and
Boris Vichith
Laughter, light discussions at the edge of a snowy forest: it's time to relax for these soldiers of the 92nd brigade.
An atmosphere that contrasts with that of the front line, about ten kilometers away, as told by Yuri Doubovik, in white camouflage.
It's not happy.
The Russians send so much that we have to stay in our trenches.
Sometimes we don't even have time to smoke a cigarette.
You can't even get out of your nose.
At the moment, we are in a defensive position.
Ivan, a 35-year-old Donbass veteran, hid his T62 tank in underbrush.
He also notices that the opposing party activates.
They started firing more guns and even dropping cluster bombs.
They are constantly launching assaults… all the time!
After a year of high-intensity warfare, fatigue is felt, the ranks are thinning.
In the unit of this mobilized nicknamed "Scotch", there are only 40 fighters out of 116.
Most of them are in hospital, injured.
We had few deaths, ten in total.
But they don't want to give us new recruits because they count those who are in the hospital as part of our workforce.
Despite everything, Scotch assures that his morale remains high and says he is ready to continue fighting as long as it takes.
► To read also:
Ukraine: psychological rehabilitation centers for soldiers and their families
Munich conference: arms deliveries to Ukraine, from incantation to action?
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