An observer bends over, with binoculars in his eyes, scans the forest in the background for movement. Russian forces are close. Each side knows where the other is. the Russians used to occupy this small camp until they were repulsed. I wonder about the tactical wisdom of going back to a site whose Russians need to know the exact coordinates, but keep it out of my mind. It is now a Ukrainian artillery base – an artillery shell, covered with camouflaged masts and foliage spots in the hidden enemy, silent for the time being. “It may be quiet, but the next minute you are under bombardment,” Andriy, the Field Commander, tells me. As if on cue, the roar of Grad rockets interrupts the interview. It’s outgoing, so we move on. “They (the Russians) are not sparing their ammunition. “Their drones are flying, even if they see that there are only one or two people, they will send a barrage of rockets.” The shelter that is attacked is a dug trench, cut into the ground. It is small, only enough space for bunk beds and a small stove. The smashing of uniforms and equipment denies the bravery with which these men fought and their unexpected successes against an enemy that is far more powerful on paper. Image: Andrii Field Commander There are not enough weapons for the number of recruits But it is immediately obvious why Ukraine continues to demand weapons from the West. There are literally not enough weapons to circulate. “Everyone is ready to fight, but to be honest we lack weapons,” said another soldier. “We have a lot of people, there are still people who go to the recruiting centers, they want to fight, but since we have a shortage of weapons, it is impossible for everyone to have a weapon in their hands.” Progress here is quite static. The first line has just been moved for weeks and both sides look well dug. It reflects a first line that in places enters a dead end. Nearby, the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag is waving at a crossroads, deliberately placed so that it is visible to Russian positions. The Russians are committed to dressing the Ukrainians, but they have not yet done so, and it is honestly impossible to understand how they imagine they will break the resolve of these soldiers to defend their homeland. The sound of artillery shells buzzes around us. Smoke rises behind trees on the horizon. “A bridge. Theirs,” a soldier tells me. And then they tell us to run. The Russians answer. That’s right, every day. A relentless artillery war, which neither side wins or loses.
