(Avdiïvka) Russian President Vladimir Poutine is unreliable and only understands the “language of arms”, estimated Ukrainian soldiers on the front line in the east of this country at the height of tensions with Moscow.
Putin “only understands the language of guns,” said Ukrainian soldier Oleksandre, 27, a paratrooper stationed near the town of Avdiivka, not far from Donetsk, a “capital” of pro-Russian separatists.
For Oleksandre Koukhartchyk, another 53-year-old parachutist, also stationed near Avdiïvka, the Russian president is simply a “killer”. “We cannot trust him, communicate normally with him”, “he is mentally ill!” », Considers this corpulent man.
Eastern Ukraine has been the scene since 2014 of a war with pro-Russian separatists, of whom the Kremlin is considered the military godfather despite his denials. This conflict, which has claimed more than 13,000 lives, began after Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula.
In recent weeks, the tension has escalated further, with the West accusing the Kremlin of plotting an invasion of Ukraine and increasing warnings to Russia.
In this context, US President Joe Biden spoke on Tuesday with Mr. Putin threatening the latter with sanctions “as he has never seen” in the event of an attack against Ukraine.
“We protect the borders of our state […] the enemy will not pass ”, for his part hammered Oleksandre, in helmet and bulletproof vest. “If they try to break through our defense, I think their losses will be ten times greater than those of our opponent,” he continued.
The soldiers warn against any concession to Russia and insist on the return under the control of Kiev of the separatist territories and of Crimea.
“Unlike him (Putin, Editor’s note), we did not come as occupiers here. We are fighting for sacred things, for our land, for our families, our mothers and fathers, our children and wives, ”said Mr. Koukhartchyk from a shelter whose walls are decorated with children’s drawings. “We cannot back down”.
His colleague Mykhaïlo, 25, does not believe too much in diplomatic efforts. Since 2014, “there have been a lot of negotiations”, but “basically nothing has changed”, judges the young man, a finger on the butt of his Kalashnikov.
“There is less bombardment, but people continue to die,” he continued.
The intensity of the fighting in Ukraine has dropped significantly after the so-called Minsk peace accords concluded in February 2018, but outbreaks of violence continue. So far this year, 64 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed on the front line.