For more than a year, volunteers of the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade have been waging war to defend Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Coming from the west of the country, they had this winter pushed the Russians about ten kilometers from their position, south of the city of Zaporizhzhia. As spring approaches, they intensify their training with the Ukrainian counter-offensive in their sights.
In total, Ukraine has conscripted more than 40,000 troops in recent months. The volunteers of the 102nd Territorial Defence Brigade are light infantry: their mission, to rush towards enemy fortifications – hundreds of kilometers of trenches dug in the occupied territories.
"We know that the Russians have mined their lines of defense a lot and are waiting for our counter-offensive... For us, who are a reconnaissance unit, this is what scares us the most because mines cause 90% of our losses," said Matvey, a soldier in the brigade.
"No one has ever fought such an enemy, which has supremacy in the air, no more tanks and artillery and even more heavy weapons. But we face them with our intelligence, cunning and tactics," said Andrii, commander of the brigade.
The summary of the week France 24 invites you to look back on the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news with you everywhere! Download the France 24 app