In the conditions of the brutal war between Ukraine and Russia, the front lines are constantly changing. One of the most disturbing aspects of this conflict is the situation in the Kursk region, where Ukraine has already lost almost half of the territories previously seized during the hostilities. This information was made public by the Ukrainian military in an interview for the British edition of The Economist , which became evidence of the difficult situation in the east of Ukraine.
As the artillery commander of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, Major Ivan Bakrev, told the publication, the Russians have a "huge" advantage in almost everything - in people, artillery, machines - and switch from mechanized to infantry attacks with powerful effect.
The setbacks began when Ukraine swapped elite units for less hardened units in late September; it was a mistake, according to the major. "All units in Kursk went on the defensive," he says.
At the same time, the Ukrainians are holding on, although the conditions are becoming more and more gloomy.
"Rain, slush, snow, cold, dirt, bugs, worms, rats and planning bombs," says Ruslan Mokrytsky from the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade. According to him, the Russians can drop up to 40 such bombs on one position within a few hours:
"Death is always near in Kursk; she practically holds your hand."
At the same time, Mokrytsky notes that Ukraine has so far found ways to respond to new challenges – even to Russian chemical attacks.
"If the Death Star appeared above us, we would find a way out," he says.
At the same time, the soldiers believe that the counteroffensive in Kurshchyna is worth it.
"When I set foot on Kurshchyna, I understood what they felt when they entered Ukraine," says Mokrytskyi. "Let them die and rot on their land, and the more of them, the better."
