A hidden, underground army base in jap Ukraine is so secret, troopers grow to be civilian garments every time they step outdoors to keep away from drawing consideration.
Journalists will not be normally allowed entry.
Lieutenant Colonel Arsen Dimitric – name signal Lemko – is the chief of workers of 1st Corps Azov of the Nationwide Guard of Ukraine, one of many nation’s simplest fight forces.
Picture:
Lemko
He sat with us within the base, subsequent to a big sq. desk, coated by a map of the Donbas area.
His troopers have been preventing on this space for the reason that summer time, countering a surge in Russian assaults in and across the frontline metropolis of Pokrovsk.
“We aim to destroy as much of the enemy as possible,” he mentioned.
“Will we take losses? Yes. Will it hurt? Absolutely.”
However he mentioned if Russia is allowed to advance, much more Ukrainians will endure.
“Their [the Russians’] only advantage is numbers,” he mentioned.
“They don’t care how many people they lose.”
Lemko mentioned virtually 17,000 Russian troopers had been killed or wounded preventing on this part of the warzone alone between August to November.
Ukrainian video footage of the battlefield confirmed Russian armoured automobiles being taken out by drones and artillery fireplace.
At one level, Russian troopers mounted on motorbikes attempt to advance, solely to be stopped by Ukrainian fireplace.
“Our task is to hit them as hard as possible in various areas,” Lemko mentioned. “We focus on our operations, others on theirs, and leadership will negotiate the best possible terms.”
The Azov Corps troopers are preventing over land that ought to be handed over to Russia, in response to an preliminary draft of a peace deal proposal between Kyiv and Moscow put ahead by america. That is regardless of swathes of the Donbas remaining below Ukrainian management.
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Giving up territory ‘unacceptable’, Ukraine’s army chief says
For Lemko, he says the job of his troops is to inflict as a lot injury as attainable on the Russian aspect to assist strengthen Ukraine’s hand in negotiations.
“Simply giving it [land] away isn’t the way,” he mentioned.
“Diplomats do their work, we do ours. Our job as soldiers is to give as many advantages as possible to our negotiating team. And we’re doing exactly that.”
Lemko, who has been battling towards Russia for the reason that Crimean annexation in 2014, additionally had a warning for the remainder of Europe a couple of rise in hybrid assaults, corresponding to mysterious drone sightings, acts of sabotage and cyber hacks suspected of being linked to Moscow.
He mentioned Ukraine’s expertise confirmed that if assaults by Russia that fall below the edge of typical struggle will not be efficiently countered, full-scale battle may comply with.
“Ukraine once lost a hybrid war that had been waged since the very start of our independence,” he mentioned.
“Because of that defeat, there was a physical operation against us in Crimea and then a physical operation in 2022.
“Now the hybrid struggle has reached its climax, and it’s shifting into the Baltic States and Europe.
“That is why, in my opinion – and in the opinion of most of our officers – now is the moment for all countries to unite and counter this hybrid war. Because the consequence may be a physical one.”
Manufacturing: Katy Scholes, safety and defence producer, and Azad Safarov, Ukraine producer.
Digital camera operator: Mostyn Pryce
