Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Ukraine’s future will be decided in the fighting in the east of the country. – It is very hard in the east, very painful, says the president. But he emphasizes that it is necessary to destroy the enemy’s military power. Nonstop attacks At the small town of Kreminna, about 40 kilometers north of Bakhmut, Ukrainian commander Oleksandr tells Reuters about the situation. He says that the Russian attacks are coming non-stop, although they have made little progress. – They push hard. They fire grenades at us, says Oleksandr. He says that the Russian occupation soldiers come in small groups of three. When these are shot, a new wave comes behind them. – At night, they always attack on foot. We see them with our night goggles and shoot them, says the commander. IN RUINS: This photo was taken in Bakhmut about two weeks ago. The Ukrainian authorities have today decided that the city will be defended. Photo: AFP Many fallen Palle Ydstebø is head of the section for land power at the Norwegian Military Academy. He tells news that reports that the Russians are sending in small groups of just three soldiers are unusual. BLODIGE: Palle Ydstebø is head of the section for land power at the Norwegian Military Academy. He says that there are very large losses in this war. Photo: Gunhild Hjermundrud / news – The Russians usually have 6-8 soldiers in each group, and they are supported by others who shoot with grenade launchers or machine guns, says the Norwegian expert. He points out that, according to NATO sources, the Russians have five times more fallen soldiers than the Ukrainians. Ukrainian authorities believe that the Russians have seven times more dead soldiers than themselves. That figure seems exaggerated to Ydstebø, although it is always difficult to assess loss figures in war. – But an attacker has greater losses because the soldiers have to climb the terrain. Whoever defends the area has great advantages by being more protected, emphasizes the Norwegian officer. RUSSIAN ROCKETS: Several residential buildings were destroyed in a Russian attack on the city of Kramatorsk on Tuesday. At least one person was killed and three injured. Photo: SERGEY SHESTAK / AFP This is the bloodiest ground war since World War II, according to the Reuters news agency. Ydstebø emphasizes that the battles become very bloody when Europe’s two largest armies are at war. Bakhmut to be defended Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and his closest military advisers IMPORTANT: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj says that the country’s fate will be decided in the battles against the Russian occupation forces in the east. Photo: GENYA SAVILOV / AFP decided on Tuesday that the battle for Bakhmut will continue. The decision was taken despite warnings that heavy losses could make it difficult to launch a planned counter-offensive against the Russian forces. The battle for the city has been going on for months and is the biggest ground battle so far in the war. Soldiers have dug trenches on either side of the front line. By all accounts, the fighting has claimed thousands of soldiers’ lives.
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The bloodiest ground battles in Europe since World War II – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
