“That is us, we are attacking Russian positions on the subject of Hostomel,” a Ukrainian soldier says, because the photographs fireplace in a synchronized rhythm.
On this specific example, the rockets the Ukrainian army is the use of to focus on Moscow’s invading troops are in fact Russian.
“Final evening we despatched the Ukrainian militia 24 Uragan missiles that had been on their manner right here to fly over our towns,” says Yuri Golodov, the deputy commander of certainly one of Ukraine’s Territorial Forces and a retired seaman from the Ukrainian Military.
“We captured them intact, gave them to the Armed Forces of Ukraine at evening and now the Ukrainian military has fired missiles again at them,” Golodov says.
Golodov performs a key function in repurposing army apparatus deserted by way of the Russian military — or captured from it.
He leads a crew operating at an army junkyard at an undisclosed location in Kyiv, repairing and repainting Russian army apparatus to be used by way of Ukrainian forces.
“The whole lot that we remove from the Russian military, we switch to the militia of Ukraine,” he says.
A 2d existence for broken guns
When CNN visited the junkyard, Ukrainian forces had been stripping naked an artillery enhance car, used to identify goals.
The Ukrainian flag have been painted over Russian army symbols, and Golodov’s unit was once taking away communications apparatus prior to sending it again onto the entrance line.
“We are going to use it to move the wounded,” he says, including it’s going to make an “necessary” contribution to Ukraine’s warfare effort.
“It is a very correct cross-country car. It might take care of any swamp or snow.”
A lot of the apparatus utilized by the Russian army is identical or the similar to that utilized by Ukrainian squaddies, so they are acquainted with its operation.
“It dates again to the Soviet Union,” Golodov says. “It’s fairly dependable.”
“The whole lot is in operating situation. It seems outdated weaponry, however in fact should you use it appropriately it’s going to serve us for a very long time,” he provides.
Golodov says his battalion could also be answerable for shooting one of the crucial apparatus within the backyard.
“We’re particular forces battalion of deep reconnaissance which goes at the back of enemy traces,” he explains. “Our job is to smash the supply of the Russian military — ammunition, gasoline, meals.”
Guns seized from troops beneath fireplace
Across the nook, a former Russian military gasoline truck is able to be redeployed and, beneath the duvet of a camouflage blanket, a captured armored body of workers service awaits its subsequent task.
It’s outdated, rusty and heavy Soviet generation equipment that breaks the pavement, as individuals of the Ukrainian Territorial Protection Forces transfer it round, however the squaddies right here say they’ll put it to excellent use.
Consistent with Golodov, the car was once captured by way of his unit, after they attacked a Russian column.
“We shot on the first car, and when it exploded the column stopped,” he says. “(Russian squaddies) ran away and we took their army apparatus.”
Consistent with Golodov and his males, it is a commonplace prevalence at the battlefield.
“Russian squaddies are worried, demoralized. They’re afraid to section with each and every different, as a result of they’re being shot at from each bush,” he says.
He says some appear to be very younger and green: “Maximum of them have no idea or perceive why they’re right here.”
Ukraine’s Territorial Protection forces are similarly inexperienced. Maximum did not have any kind of army coaching prior to the Russian invasion, however the males say they’re in a position for struggle.
In any other a part of the power, squaddies armed with AK-47s, educate for a conceivable stumble upon with Russian troops. They transfer in teams in an arranged means and appear unfazed when their commander fires blanks of their route.
Golodov seems on, proud. Ahead of he retired from the army, he says he frolicked with the Soviet Union’s north fleet in Mursmansk, northwestern Russia, and says he is aware of what Russian forces are able to.
He tells us he isn’t shocked by way of how smartly Ukraine has fared within the face of reputedly insurmountable odds.
“The power of the Russian military is not anything greater than a fantasy,” he says, assured in a Ukrainian victory. “How can anyone in all probability assume differently?”
