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Ukraine announced the takeover of a fourth village in the Donetsk region on Monday (June 12). Some residents had always refused to leave their land. France Télévisions journalists were able to approach Storozheve, one of the first villages taken over.
We head towards the villages just liberated from the southern fronts. On the road, the rushing back and forth of Ukrainian army tanks, and the incessant roar of artillery fire. The mission of the crew of this French-made Caesar gun: to support the first breakthroughs on the Russian lines, thanks to precision strikes, at 40 km. The counter-offensive galvanizes the soldiers. “We are having our first successes, and of course that gives us courage. We are going all out”says Psich, battalion commander on the southern front.
The image is symbolic. Triumphantly posted on social networks, the Ukrainian flag flies again Monday, June 12 in the streets of this village occupied for a year and a half. Presented as a trophy, an abandoned Russian vehicle.
A symbolic liberation
When we approach Storozheve, we pass in its armor provided by the Americans, a brigade which returns from there. The village is liberated, of course, but the situation remains very unstable according to its leader. He advises us not to go there. In a town, 3 km from the liberated villages, hitherto caught between the two camps, the few inhabitants note the changes since their troops progress. With their own danger scale. “The situation is improving. Before we were targeted daily by hundreds of shells, and for one or two days, there are only a few dozen”, testifies a resident. The liberation of these first villages is also symbolic, it boosts the morale of the Ukrainian population.