On the front line in Kherson, a Ukrainian artillery crew in an empty field fires two rapid bursts at a distance targeting Russian forces. Dressed in camouflage uniforms, they immediately pack up and move in fear of Russian return fire, trying to hide from Russian surveillance drones and those with weapons. “Now we are dominating, slowly they are retreating. The Russians used them all [troop] reserves, but they could only reach our front line,” artillery commander Kosiak, 22, told Al Jazeera. “The situation with drones is complicated. They always fly, every day and every hour. It was scary only at the beginning of the war, now we are just doing our job. Even when we are shot at, we don’t panic. We are used to war,” he said. The city of Kherson is the only regional capital captured by Moscow since its invasion began on February 24. For several weeks Ukrainian forces have advanced towards the industrial port. Russian General Sergei Surovikin ordered troops to withdraw from Kherson on Wednesday on the east bank of the Dnieper River. Ukrainian officials responded with caution, warning that the announcement could be a trap. Military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer said Russia’s announced withdrawal from Kherson politically “is a disaster.” “Politically it is very disturbing. Militarily it makes sense and that’s probably why the Russian generals pushed through such a decision,” Felgenhauer said.
“The Scariest Thing”
Back on the battlefield of Kherson, the weapons used by Ukrainian forces are sometimes twice as many as those firing them. As they load missiles into a truck, a soldier writes the names of fallen comrades on the explosives to be launched at the Russians. “As a commander, the scariest thing is losing people. Everyone here in the infantry, artillery and engineer brigade is afraid of coming under enemy fire,” said Vadim, 23. “The Russians are using everything they have – guns, artillery… MLRS [multiple launch rocket systems]. The enemy is not ashamed to use all kinds of weapons.” The military unit remains invisible and awaits further orders and information relayed by unmanned aerial vehicles. “Sure, this is a drone war. In most cases, artillery adjustments are made by drones. Both small commercial and larger drones have made a difference,” said Vadym.
Russian scam?
Recently, the contact line has moved quickly. “The Russians were close a few months ago, but now the front line is moving,” said infantry commander Mykhailo, 42. “Jets and drones always fly overhead, but only for observation. Mostly they are Russian drones. We don’t see them, but they keep flying.” Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig, reporting from the Kherson region, said Ukrainian forces believe it is only a “matter of time” to drive the Russians out of their country. But Felgenhauer warned: “This is not a Russian defeat, since they will obviously withdraw in an organized manner. Ukrainians will proceed very carefully, fearing some kind of Russian fraud. “But the decisive moments may come when winter sets in and tanks and trucks can move easily again through fields and dirt roads, then there will be real action, which can be decisive in this war. “I think the Ukrainians will be ready for a massive attack. They will at least try to do that and push the Russians very hard out of Ukraine,” he said.
