Places called Chernihiv in Ukraine
CNN
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A loud engine heralded the approach of the Soviet-era armored BTR vehicle before it was spotted – racing across a grassy field outside Chernihiv in northern Ukraine. Suddenly it stopped, its door opened and Ukrainian soldiers rushed out, storming the canal below.
“Today our task is to train and clean the trenches,” a Ukrainian soldier with the call-sign Jenia said. He is a member of Kyiv’s Offensive Guard, which is part of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ initiative to establish new assault brigades.
“The enemy lost positions, we quickly arrived, took positions, and returned them,” he added.
This operation is only a drill, but the scenario is engineered to be as realistic as possible. The trenches were muddy – despite weeks without rain – and soldiers were forced to deal with the unexpected, such as caring for and evacuating the wounded, or adjusting after suffering casualties.
“Some people say that training is not difficult, that there is no danger – but running in the trenches and training constantly, knowing that you are going to war, it is not easy,” said Jenia. “Everything comes with practice, Obviously during combat there is also a psychological effect of war – but practice is very important.”
Although Ukrainian cities have experienced a series of Russian missile and drone attacks, Jenia and the other members of the Offensive Guard remain undaunted, simulating the scenarios they expect to see- an when Kyiv finally launches the expected counter-offensive.
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A Ukrainian BTR armored personnel carrier races across a field as part of a military drill.
That day is approaching, if one of the top advisers of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is to be believed.
“There is already some kind of work underway to increase the intensity of shelling of logistical support to Russia in order to reduce their combat capabilities in the near future, to weaken their defenses,” the presidential adviser said. CNN’s Mykhailo Podolyak in an interview.
The strikes mentioned by Podolyak are often called shaping operations – so called because they aim to ‘shape’ the battlefield – in this case, in favor of Ukraine. CNN previously reported that it began on May 12, citing a senior US military official and senior Western official.
“Everything that happened today is a prelude to an attack, a necessary pre-condition,” explained Podolyak. “When the intensity of fire increases, especially in logistics supplies, when the number of operations increases.”
Vasco Cotovio/CNN
Podolyak refuses to date, but there are clear signs that the counter-offensive will begin soon.
Ukraine has increased the number of strikes on Russian ammunition depots, logistical nodes and rear echelon bases, as seen in Mariupol and Berdyansk in recent days. The military’s top general, Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, released a softly-produced video over the weekend with the caption: “The time has come to take back what is ours.”
In his nightly speech Monday, President Zelensky said the timing of the counteroffensive had been set, but did not provide further details. And despite clear signs that a counter-offensive is coming, Podolyak also refuses to commit to specific dates.
“You can’t say about an attack that it starts any one day, a moment when certain events start,” he said. “Now there are intensive relatively offensive actions on the side of the city of Bakhmut. In fact there is no city left, but the offensive continues.”
These small operations are only a sample of the larger offensive, whose ambitious goals are very open in Ukraine and openly announced. But for this to succeed, Kyiv needs the continued support of the West.
“If there is a timely delivery of many necessary functional components, I’m talking about shells, drones and missiles, then of course the war can mathematically end this year,” said Polodyak. “But it will end without a doubt on the borders of Ukraine as in 1991, with the de-occupation of Crimea, and without a doubt with the beginning of a great process of changing the Russian political system.”
“There is a counter-offensive in any case, and it will be successful. It will not be easy, it will take time, it will be complicated, but it will be successful,” he added.
These bold goals are the reason why Kyiv delayed an attack that was originally expected in early spring but did not materialize until late summer, taking time to perfect the strategy.
“It is impossible to be fully prepared for such a large number of combat. There must be constant improvement,” explained Podolyak. “This or other initiative events on the front lines continue, we will continue to gathering resources, we will continue to conduct combat unity, we will continue to train and train our troops, including the partners who conduct the training.”
Vasco Cotovio/CNN
Ukrainian soldiers secure positions inside an enemy trench during a drill designed to simulate the type of combat operations seen in the east of the country.
Back on the training ground, the commander of the Offensive Guard, call sign Kyiv, has a similar combat philosophy.
“We are improving our fighting skills with special combat training every day to liberate our lands,” he said. “Our soldiers now know how to deal with the enemy – because we practiced everything until it became automatic.”
He is helping train thousands of troops and believes Ukraine has what it takes to succeed.
“We have motivation,” he said. “We protect our lands, this is our country, this is our home.”
“Of course the victory will be ours,” he added.
