We waited at a checkpoint close to the Ukrainian’s line of defense for the southern counter-offensive.
We had permission to be there, however the troopers have been sad, and all these permissions needed to be rechecked.
The Ukrainian authorities and navy have imposed an nearly full blackout of data on the southern counter-attack that has the Russian-held metropolis of Kherson as its prize.
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We watched as dozens of vehicles, wagons, tanks, and basic {hardware} handed by.
We could not movie, one cannot at checkpoints anyway – that’s the rule. To the left of the crossroads, I might see mud rise above the wheatfields indicating a big convoy.
Rumbling down the highway got here a sequence of big vehicles, every carrying a payload of western-supplied weapons methods.
Their cargo is the explanation Ukraine’s counter-offensives within the north and south have even occurred. We could not movie, however we watched them go by. The methods are right here and lively.
The southern offensive is proving harder than the blitzkrieg assault within the north, there are a couple of causes for this, and they’re fairly easy.
Firstly, the Russians knew it was coming, and because of this, are ready and have been reinforcing their positions.
Secondly, Kherson, the one metropolis they’ve taken, is in some ways a gateway to Crimea and a land bridge to Russia. Russia cannot afford to lose this, so they’re combating laborious to defend their traces.
And thirdly, and that is the Ukrainians’ drawback, the land is lifeless flat and infantry actions are probably deadly as a result of there’s nowhere to seek out cowl, so the battlefield is dominated by artillery and rockets.
The sound of explosions is fixed.
Driving by these flatlands is eery and albeit scary. The highway to the entrance is the provision line. They’re a continuing goal, either side assault provide traces as a routine.
Tank battalions manoeuvre in direction of the frontline to help infantry. Behind them the primary line of defense is held by miles of dug-in and camouflaged tank and artillery positions.
Their job is to fight any sudden Russian fightback. We watch as they load their tanks with personalised shells.
From “Mykola to Moskals” it says – a present from Ukrainians to Russians. This offensive comes at a price in misplaced lives.
Two medics getting ready for his or her shift rescuing injured folks on the entrance advised us the casualties can generally be very excessive. The purpose is easy, they are saying, the Russians knew they have been coming.
“What we know for sure is that after a successful counter-offensive in the Kharkiv direction, the Russians are trying to cut all options for advancements towards Crimea,” Said Ismalihov advised me, earlier than dashing off to the entrance.
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Major Serhii Tsehotskii is an space commander alongside these battle traces and is initially from Crimea. He is a businessman by commerce however re-joined the military after the Russian invasion started in February.
The 55-year-old’s household is now in Britain. His spouse, daughter, and grandson reside in London after evacuating at the beginning of the battle. His brother and son are right here combating with him.
The main likes to maintain a watch out for the civilians who’ve stayed behind throughout all of the combating.
Sixty-year-old Lyuba comes outdoors to fulfill him. They give one another a giant hug, and she or he calls over her husband Leonil to say hello. Lyuba is in very excessive spirits, she says they have been capable of depart their basement in current days.
She sniffs the air. “What does it smell like? Try it. What? Just tell me, what does it smell like?” she asks. “Like victory!” she shouts.
“And you want me to leave. Why should I? Why do I need to? No, no. That’s not how it’s going to work. I will be waiting here”, she says defiantly. “Anyway, they will be defeated soon, soon.”
Lyuba like all Ukrainians is optimistic, however the noises from the Kremlin are ominous.
This battle might so simply escalate. And which means no one right here is protected.
Source: information.sky.com”