report
In order to make do with less and less ammunition, Ukrainian soldiers have to constantly train in the field to use their weapons. Even at night – although that is particularly risky.
A dark night not far from the Ukrainian front. Cars arrive at high speeds with squealing tires. One by one the headlights turn off. Men in uniforms get out of the cars, talk in hushed tones, joke, and laugh. But the situation is dangerous. Ukrainian soldiers meet to train at night. In war for war.
All the men here have been on the job for a long time. Also Agat, the 24-year-old commander. He calls the soldiers together for a short meeting before things start. “Why are we doing this training?” asks Agat and shortly afterwards gives the answer himself. “So you can at least get your bearings at night.” A lot went wrong during the previous night’s battle.
Because a lot happens at the front, especially under the cover of darkness. Russian troops bring ammunition supplies or food for the soldiers to the combat area. There is a change of position or reinforcements arrive.
The training is therefore important for the Ukrainian soldiers, but also highly dangerous: many soldiers with ammunition and weapon systems gather in a small space. The Russian army repeatedly shells Ukrainian training areas – especially those close to the front. There are no official figures on soldiers injured or killed during training; the Ukrainian military keeps such information under wraps.
“Look how bright… beautiful”
Before things start, coordinates are determined: targets that are to be hit with various weapon systems. The 36-year-old drone pilot Andrij monitors the events from the air. The exercises are evaluated based on the drone footage.
He himself is marked by the last few years. “It’s clear that we’re tired. I’m tired,” he says. “I’m no longer healthy.” He takes painkillers every morning and every evening. “I look young, but I have almost no spine left. All my joints are broken. I have poor eyesight and wear contact lenses. I can’t hear with one ear and can’t see with one eye.”
The soldiers fire light grenades to better identify the target. In the starry night, vast barren terrain becomes visible somewhere near the Ukrainian-Russian front in Donbass. “Look how bright… beautiful,” shouts one of the soldiers. Andriy proudly explains that the US flare grenades glow about ten seconds longer than the Soviet ones. Training is carried out here with both models.
Two years in combat took a toll on his health – soldier Andrij openly admits that.
Train whenever possible
“At the moment we are training every day,” says Commander Agat. “Whenever we’re not fighting, whenever possible, when it’s quieter, we can train to fire at enemy targets. In other words, we’re learning here right on the front lines.”
This is particularly important because ammunition is currently so scarce. Of course, ammunition would also be used during training, which is necessary in order to be able to use the little ammunition more efficiently later in combat.
The soldiers practice firing Javelin and Corsar anti-tank missiles from their shoulders. “Don’t stand behind him,” Agat calls out to the soldiers standing around before one of them pulls the trigger. The shot hits, the men are happy.
After almost three hours the training is over. The soldiers now have to quickly disappear to their sleeping positions – widely spread out, mostly in houses in the area that have been abandoned by civilians.
No rules for frontline leave
The situation on the more than 1,000 kilometer long front remains difficult for the Ukrainians. In order to continue to hold the line, the army urgently needs artillery and, above all, soldiers. More than two years after the start of the Russian invasion, many soldiers are tired and exhausted. However, there is no official uniform regulation for rotation or returning home.
Drone pilot Andrij does not understand why some Ukrainian men who are not currently fighting are not preparing for a possible deployment to the front. “We’re going to need people to replace us,” he says. “I don’t understand why they don’t prepare for this in civilian life – don’t take medical courses, don’t study weapons.” The war could potentially last for decades, he says.
During the nighttime exercise, the instructors did their best to teach the soldiers to get by with as little ammunition as possible – and to continue holding the front.