by Volodymyr Pavlov
NEAR CHASSIV YAR, Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukrainian forces defending Chasiv Yar, a high-rise town considered a strategic key in eastern Ukraine, are impatiently awaiting the delivery of new munitions as attacks intensify Russians, both on the ground and in the air with drones.
After seizing Avdiivka in February after long weeks of fighting, the Russian army is progressing towards the West and has reached the suburbs of Chassiv Yar, the capture of which would allow it to settle on reliefs to attack neighboring localities and continue to advance.
Oleh Chyriaiev, commander of the 225th Ukrainian assault battalion engaged on the outskirts of the city, judges that supplies of artillery shells would help his unit hold its positions.
“I hope we will receive artillery shells soon,” he said, installed in his command post near Chassiv Yar.
He points out that munitions delivered by Ukraine’s Western allies have made significant differences on the battlefield in the past.
“I witnessed the events a year ago when Wagner was advancing,” he said, referring to the now-disbanded powerful Russian paramilitary force. “We received cluster munitions which were a significant game-changer and we managed to counterattack successfully.”
Cluster munitions are banned by many countries but are used by both sides in the Ukraine war. The Ukrainian army has committed to using it only to defeat concentrations of enemy troops.
THE MAY 9 DEADLINE
For Oleh Chyriaiev, the latter also needs better trained soldiers and long-range weapons.
“If we get long-range weapons, our leaders will cut off (Russian forces) their logistical support and their supply chains,” he says.
Ukraine has previously fired long-range missiles supplied by its allies against Russian airfields, munitions depots, command posts and troop concentrations.
Even before the release of massive new aid from the United States after months of negotiations in Congress, the Americans have discreetly delivered weapons of this type, Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), in recent weeks.
Russia on Tuesday accused Ukraine of firing ATACMS in an attempt to break through its anti-aircraft defenses in Crimea and claimed to have shot down six of the missiles.
According to Oleh Chyriaiev, his unit is under almost constant threat from Russian drones (UAVs), capable of flying day and night due to thermal cameras allowing them to identify targets even in the dark.
Russian soldiers on the ground then attack these targets in vehicles such as quad bikes and, despite their heavy losses, manage to exert strong pressure on the Ukrainian troops.
“They suffer great losses, our forces kill many,” assures Oleh Chyriaiev. “But I have to point out that the enemy has a lot of UAVs that are having a big impact on the situation here.”
Larger in number and better equipped with weapons until now, the Russian army has recently gained the upper hand in eastern Ukraine where most of the fighting is concentrated.
Oleh Chyriaiev is, however, convinced that it will not be able to enter Chassiv Yar by May 9, the anniversary in Russia of the victory against Nazi Germany in 1945. Ukrainian officials, however, fear that the Russians are working to reap such a success for this symbolic date.
(Written by Anastasiia Malenko, French version Bertrand Boucey)
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