on the front, the Ukrainian army claims its determination

As international support weakens and weather conditions worsen, in the trenches, Ukrainian soldiers continue the counter-offensive.

In a trench with glistening edges of ice and frozen mud, near Bakhmout (Ukraine), machine guns in hand, in groups of two, the soldiers advance. The cutting wind makes the snow burst. Everything is white, khaki, brown, hostile, cold, violent. Rehearse, prepare for the assault, facing an enemy whose firepower seems inexhaustible. Near the line of ice-covered trees, a few planks burn without warming. The men who are there will not give their rank. Alexander, just his first name: “We have a war, a serious war and unfortunately, people are dying. But we are holding on. We are indestructible. It’s not cinema, it’s not an action film. It’s a real war. There is weather, danger everywhere. You can lose your brothers in arms: it is a great pain with which I have to struggle every day.”

Far from the front, this is a crucial week for Ukraine. The American Congress must decide on the continuation of aid and the European summit will focus on Thursday, December 14, on the negotiations for accession to the European Union. The soldiers want to show that nothing can undermine their determination. The counter-offensive is getting bogged down and if the Ukrainian army planted its flag two days ago on one of the heights of Horlivka, not far from there, everyone is aware that the Russian army in recent days has advance. In Avdiivka, it progressed by establishing a foothold in industrial zones, but also to the west of Robotyné and further to the southwest, again, at Maryiinka.

“Victory can only be for us”

But nothing, however, seems to make Alexander waver: “The Ukrainian army is the best, the strongest. Victory can only be for us. Behind us is the truth. We are on our land, and we will hold.” Weapons, of course, need more. The blocking of aid, they prefer not to think about it. They will make do with what they have, said this other officer: “No matter how many weapons our partners provide us with, to use them you need people. So the first thing we need is more people. It would be good if those who are the rear and those who went abroad are coming back to help us here. Give us more weapons, ammunition, we will continue to do what we have to do.”

In the cities, on this front more than 1,000 km long, soldiers are everywhere. At gas stations where they can eat or drink, free hot coffee, they talk. What remains to be done: continue to confront the insane harshness of this front, where the eras collide. From the trenches straight out of the First World War to the drones of the war of the future.