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An intercepted telephone conversation provides insight into the Kharkiv front: Russian soldiers are under constant fire and are hiding in “caves.”
Kharkiv – Losses in the Ukraine war continue to rise significantly – on the Ukrainian side, but also on the Russian side. Despite the faltering Kharkiv offensive, the situation for the Ukrainian armed forces on the front line remains tense. The situation of the Russian attackers seems almost worse. Catastrophic conditions prevail, as a report now reveals.
Intercepted phone calls provide insight into life on the front lines in the Ukraine war
Intercepted telephone conversations between Russian soldiers give an impression of the devastating situation at the front. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) published a recording on Telegram on Wednesday (29 May) – between a soldier near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region and his mother in Russia. KyivPost translate the phone call.
The military command recently withdrew its unit from the front because hardly any soldiers remained. “There were supposed to be 126 [Soldaten] But there’s nothing left,” said the Russian soldier. Explosions could be heard in the background. A kamikaze drone had flown over him, he explained to his mother: “Damn, I almost peed my pants.” He swore over and over again.
“Soldiers drink their urine”: Catastrophic conditions on the Kharkiv front
The Russian soldier on the phone insisted that there was no way to shoot down the drone. The Ukrainian first-person view drones were inflicting heavy losses on the Russian armed forces. The only thing that helped with the drones was to take cover: “We are hiding now! I have read all the prayers. It is a homemade drone and it is packed with explosives.” The number of Russian soldiers killed or injured since the beginning of the war in Ukraine is said to be 500,080, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. “We have 63 or 73 wounded and about 10 dead,” explained the soldier at the front.
The worried mother asked her son if he and his comrades were in a shelter. He replied: “Mom, the people here have been sitting without water for nine days. Soldiers drink their own urine. A basin of water would be a joy for me.” They were living in “caves” in the forest and were stuck there: “And you sleep there, fight there, eat there, there’s a toilet. How can you call that a shelter then?” said the soldier. He didn’t get much sleep because of the fighting and the fear.
Kharkiv offensive: Putin has only “limited forces”
The Kremlin regularly denies the content of intercepted telephone conversations of Russian soldiers. Although Putin is apparently gathering his forces north of Kharkiv, Russian troops are currently not sufficiently prepared to break through Ukraine’s defense line. The Ukrainian military announced this according to German Radio The phone call also suggests that a large-scale Russian offensive is not currently possible.
The US think tank also Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated in its latest report that Putin’s troops had only begun the offensive with “limited forces.” “The decreasing tempo probably offers the Ukrainian forces tactical opportunities for a counterattack,” it said. However, the focus remains on defense. (hk)
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