Five of them are sitting on a terrace in a queue. Five bearded young men dressed in green. They laugh so loud. They were soldiers engaged against the Russian invaders. The day before, two of them had returned from the front.
Very tired, that marked what I saw in Donbass
, “Beaver” explains. He was a Montreal in his thirties, an experienced soldier, and he would like to be referred to by his name de Guerre.
We traveled on almost every Donbass. Unfortunately, we saw how far the Russian conditions were advancing.
Every day, conditions approaching major cities such as Siverodonetsk.
Montreal befriended Ajay, an American of the same age who had twice served in Afghanistan. He says he has eight years of experience in the U.S. military.
” My government does not want to do anything else with foreign conflicts. I came myself to offer my experience and my time to the Ukrainians. ⁇
Before joining the Territorial Defense, a type of Ukrainian reserve created by volunteers, the two comrades spent a few weeks in war units created by foreigners.
They are resting for a few days after two intense weeks in the Luhansk region, one of the two regions that make up Donbass and inhabited by Russian-speakers and separatists.
Sure we’m going to die right there … the fight is intense. This is very dangerous
Says Ajay. Russian artillery and air force attack every day. Windows [de notre hôtel] Trembled when the bombs fell nearby.
There were militants in Baghmouth, one of the cities most deserted and targeted by the Russians. They must conduct surprise attacks against enemy positions. But one evening, they were surprised.
” We have rescued some soldiers who were trapped in the Izium sector. On our way back we were attacked by Russian artillery. We firmly believed that we were all going to die right there. ⁇
The militants dug into the jungle in hopes of escaping from the Russian drones sent to find them. We were all pushed to the ground without speaking
, He adds. Around them, artillery shells.
We saw the flames, it smelled of smoke, the smell of gunpowder. It was so loud: the decibel level that hurts the ears. No one said a word. Everyone was saying their prayers.
Answered the prayers. A few days later, the two returned to rest in Kiev. In their backs, they brought these great fears and lessons from the front.
Forces without discipline
They are cowboys
, Ajay begins. He refers to the militants he met in the regional security, not the soldiers of the Ukrainian army.
Some of his comrades seemed to him less disciplined than professional soldiers. He sometimes provokes militants who are drunk or intoxicated. Ignorant of the dangers.
Ajay, a U.S. fighter involved with Ukrainian forces.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Richard Moss
For example, at night they drive like crazy, sometimes the headlights are on. Same thing with their cell phones: they turn on the screen. That’s the decent thing to do, and it should end there. The Russians can see us.
Some, Beaver explains, lived in war and fought with the Russians. But it was mostly in paramilitary units Those who already have major organizational shortcomings and do not have the same standards of discipline
.
Men Have good fighting temperament
Ajay mentions. But they need better tricks. That’s why there are so many victims: they don’t get enough training.
Some fighters have experience in the war in eastern Ukraine since 2014, but others have less experience.
Photo: Getty Images / Anatoly Stepanov, / AFP
Beaver goes so far as to condemn one of the methods of warfare used by the Ukrainians: to attack the enemy from civilian still living areas. Russian Answers In the middle of the city there is a risk of civilian casualties
.
Western weapons with missing parts
Ukrainian troops do not have modern weapons and ammunition. Moreover, as both militants noted, the material provided by Western allies does not always come to the fore.
Javelin is certainly the most popular model of anti-tank weapon in this conflict. However, according to the two, it can not always be used against Russian tanks.
As for the spear, we found that the CLU did not have the computer system needed to use the spear, which made firing impossible and the weapon unusable.
Laments Beaver.
Ukrainian soldier with anti-javelin missile
Photo: Reuters / Gleb Garanich
Ajay also noticed that the batteries that run the computer systems of these sophisticated weapons are often out of date. Very old. However, without a source of energy, this weapon would be useless.
User manuals written in languages not understood in Ukraine will be sent to areas where devices cannot be used. Or very close to the front, destroyed very quickly by Russian artillery.
As for the militants who were hastily trained by the Westerners, Ajay believes that they are rushing to war quickly, where they are in danger of dying before they can train their comrades.
” The West thinks help is coming, but I do not see it. There are a lot of logistics issues, a lot of units that do not know how to use what is sent. ⁇
Radio-Canada could not verify these reports, reflecting only a partial view of Ukrainian military efforts.
Western countries like Canada still provide millions of dollars in sophisticated military equipment, but little information is spread that these weapons are actually being used.
Reluctantly but based on their military experience, the two fighters come to a conclusion: Ukraine will lose the Donbass in the next few days due to lack of adequate weapons.
The enemy, they recalled Features modern weapons, more artillery pieces and more aircraft. This is a little failed battle
.
Beaver agrees; However, like Ajay, Montreal did not want to give up on the Ukrainians.
” People [que j’ai rencontrés] Are ready to die for Ukraine. It was probably a fight to lose, but still, no reason to give up. ⁇
Both promise to return to the forefront in early June. If it is not in the Donbass, it will be in the south of the country, which is under attack by Russian forces.
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