Ukrainian soldiers recount difficult situations in frontline villages

Ukrainian soldiers in Rabotino said they lacked manpower, ammunition and UAVs, while being repeatedly attacked and responded to with high intensity by Russia.

By announcing the recapture of the village of Rabotino on the southern front, Ukraine wanted to send a message to the world that it had managed to break through the Russian defenses and was building up momentum. However, six weeks on, Ukraine has not made any breakthroughs in this direction.

Some soldiers from the Ukrainian 65th Brigade leading the assault on Rabotino even admitted that they did not fully control the small village in Zaporizhzhia province.

Eight Ukrainian soldiers involved in the fighting at Rabotino said they were only slowly advancing as they faced Russian forces defending their fortified positions. Many Ukrainian soldiers at Rabotino complained that their units lacked personnel, ammunition and small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Ukrainian soldiers in trenches in the village of Rabotino on October 1. Photo: AFP

Igor Korol, commander of the 1st Battalion of the 65th Brigade, said the announcement of Rabotino's recapture on August 28 was "mostly a publicity stunt, as the village has no strategic value." "We could have bypassed the village," Korol said. "We like big announcements or quick victories, but the reality is different."

Korol admitted that his troops could not move freely around the village of Rabotino because of Russian fire, even though they controlled the residential area. "Moving during the day meant certain death," Korol said. "Every time the Russians shelled us, we lost men."

Russian forces have withdrawn from Rabotino, but the village remains within artillery range, preventing Ukraine from launching a large-scale offensive with tanks and armored vehicles.

Ukraine launched a large-scale counteroffensive in early June with the ambitious goal of reaching the Sea of ​​Azov and cutting off the land corridor from western Russia to the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and the Crimean peninsula. If this goal is achieved, Ukraine could force Russian forces to retreat due to the loss of their supply lines.

Russian officials say the fact that Ukraine has only regained control of a few dozen square kilometers since the start of the counteroffensive is evidence that the large-scale operation has failed. The nearest major city to Rabotino is Tokmak, about 30 kilometers away. The Black Sea is 70 kilometers from Rabotino.

Location of the cities of Orekov, Tokmak, Melitopol and the villages of Rabotino, Verbovoe. Graphics: RYV

Russia has established a solid defense line with trenches, bunkers, anti-tank ditches and dense minefields. Ukraine has broken through the first layer of the Russian defense line in some places, but the entire defense system still holds.

The coming months of autumn rains, winter mud and ice will make the Ukrainian campaign increasingly difficult. They also face a constant threat from the air, with bombs, artillery shells and explosive-laden drones poised to rain down on Ukrainian troops as they try to advance.

Leonid, a Ukrainian engineer, said his country's soldiers could only advance "for three or five minutes between enemy attacks". "There was no close-quarter fighting," Leonid said, "the Russians attacked with 82mm and 120mm mortars, suicide drones and KAB guided bombs".

Poltava, deputy commander of the 1st battalion of the 85th brigade, said Russia "recklessly used bombs and bullets" to stop the enemy's counterattack, causing Ukrainian units to suffer heavy losses.

"We had to move step by step, bush by bush, not as fast as we would have liked. The situation was very difficult, we lost a lot of people," Poltava said.

Ukrainian soldiers in fortifications in the village of Rabotino on October 1. Photo: AFP

Soldiers from the Ukrainian 65th Brigade said that when they fired one or two shells at the enemy, Russia responded with 10. The level of response was similar when Ukrainian soldiers used small UAVs to attack Russian positions.

“They have more men and equipment,” said a Ukrainian soldier named Oleksandr. “When they attack, we go to the bunkers. When the attack is over, we move forward if we can.”

Ukraine has repeatedly rejected Western claims that it has not regained enough territory in its counteroffensive. Ukrainian officials say the difficulties in the campaign are due to the West’s slow delivery of weapons needed for the offensive.

According to Ukrainian officials, if they are transferred F-16 fighters, they will challenge Russian air superiority and defenses, as well as support the ground troops in a counterattack. The Ukrainian soldiers can only move very slowly because they do not have air support. "The price is the lives of our soldiers. We have very few reserves," said Commander Korol.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP )

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