Exhausted Ukrainian forces fight to contain Russian advances on the eastern front
John: Along the Russia-Ukraine border, badly-stretched Ukrainian forces are struggling to deny Russia a foothold. The town of vovchansk, just three miles inside the border, has seen some of the fiercest fighting since Russia launched its offensive. That’s where John ray of independent television news joined soldiers from Ukraine’s 57th brigade. John R.: These are anxious times for Ukraine. And especially for the men of the 57th brigade. The shooting starts the moment we arrive. It turns out they’re hunting a drone that’s hunting them. There’s danger from every direction, at any time. >> It’s so loud. They are striking everything. Everything they can, they strike. John: Oleg is a new recruit. And already an exhausted veteran. >> Everything is very difficult. Very hard. John: A lot of rockets? A lot drones? >> Drones like bees. Like everywhere. All you hear is buzzing. What’s frightening, it’s like rain. Like rain. John: Have you had any rest? >> No. John: Then suddenly, his unit is called back to the action. These men are being stretched to the limit. The battlefield is a wasteland. Street by streetfighting. Volchansk, one soldier tells us, exists now in name only. This was the hospital, leveled by Ukrainian missiles after Russian soldiers took up positions inside. That is the sound of outgoing artillery but the Russians have conquered this land once before and now Ukraine is having to fight for it a second time. A little more than a week ago, this was a border. Now, it’s a battlefield. The men here have been rushed to this new front line. Leaving defenses elsewhere thin. Deep in his bunker, it is a fear shared by their commander. >> Yes, I really worry about that. There are a lot of Russians. We need more of everything. The front line was already very long. Now, it’s even longer. John: The Russians have punched a deep hole in Ukraine’s defenses and these men are doing their best to fill it, but they been fighting with almost not a break for almost two years and right now the Russians are regathering their strength. Lives lost and lives abandoned. This village has been hit four times. They’d just finished rebuilding this school after the last Russian occupation two years ago. Now, Roman is one of very few civilians left. They know what Russian rule means here. >> Yes, yes, we can see the Russians. We know how they steal, how they loot everything. They take everything they can. John: They know there are more Russian troops further along this border ready to move. A long summer of fighting lies ahead. John Y.: That was John ray of independent television news.
Along the Russia-Ukraine border, badly stretched Ukrainian forces are struggling to deny Russia a foothold. The town of Vovchansk, three miles inside the border, has seen some of the fiercest fighting since Russia launched its offensive in 2022. John Ray of Independent Television News joined soldiers from Ukraine’s 57th Brigade there and has this report from the front line.
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