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War in Ukraine: new recruits on the front line
EXCLUSIVE – A France 2 team was able to go to the front, near Lyman (Ukraine). While President Zelensky has been talking about the lack of soldiers for several weeks, new recruits are finding themselves in combat, as close as possible to the enemy.
The outcome of the war in Ukraine is being decided in the trenches, where the soldiers protect themselves with their bodies. France 2 was able to spend a day on the front line. Most of the soldiers have been on the verge of death for more than two years and the shortage of men is starting to be heavy. “Everyone wants to be lifted up, to see and hug their family”confides a soldier, his eyes downcast.
Rare new recruits
Russian troops are barely 200 meters away and regularly attempt to take the position, as evidenced by the body of a Russian soldier. “He was killed during the assault, when they attacked”, explains a soldier. The corpse is still there, but the assault in question took place on December 25, 2023 and it was terribly bloody. The danger is constant, soldiers regularly try to shoot down drones. The vast majority of men in the trenches have been mobilized since the start of the war.
Major Victor is new. Arriving barely two days ago, he is consolidating positions: “I think I’m going to stay a little while, this war is not going to end anytime soon”, he despairs. Two soldiers, present since the start of the war, would like to be relieved, but they know that Ukraine is struggling to find replacements for them.
