in Kherson, the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian army slows down

The tank rushes across the fields to escape the ripostes. It is parked, stashed in an undergrowth, a few kilometers from the Russian positions. “It’s the art of camouflageconfides the one who calls himself “Snake”, an artilleryman of Brigade 63. We have wild living conditions. That’s how we manage to stay mobile, we have to be able to move 24 hours a day.” And is victory near? “Actually, yes. It’s in the air, you can feel it”slips the Ukrainian soldier.

>> War in Ukraine: the capture of Kherson promises “street fighting”, testifies a soldier who prepares for battle

“We hide in nature, we use camouflage nets, we cover vehicles… We adapt to the particularities of the terrain. We manage as best we can, sometimes we have to dig to bury the vehicles.”

“Serpent”, Brigade 63 Gunner

at franceinfo

In Ukraine, the Russians have sworn to make the city of Kherson – which they occupy – a fortress to resist the Ukrainian offensive. Moscow would have 30 tactical battalions in the region according to kyiv, a military force that will be difficult to break before the first winter frosts within six weeks. The offensive is taking longer than expected. The artillery battles are raging.

In the last village before the front line, 15 kilometers from the Russian forces, the commander of the unit – “Anaconda” for his nom de guerre – assures us that the Ukrainian army is nibbling away at the ground, but taking Kherson is more complex than intended. “We are given targetsexplains “Anaconda”. We check if there are potential civilian targets nearby and, if so, we don’t shoot, even after receiving the order. We are shooting over a distance of 17 kilometers so the accuracy is not quite exact. That’s what slows down the counter-offensive.”

“We have to choose our targets well to keep them alive. The Russians don’t care.”

“Anaconda”, unit commander

at franceinfo

The gunners have recently lost comrades in the fighting. Only the shots from the American Himars rocket launcher in the distance sound like comfort to them. The missile has just pounded an entire regiment of young Russian soldiers, 80 kilometers away.