Aslan Muhammed was sitting in his hideout near the town of Chasiv Yar, one of the last Ukrainian strongholds near the town of Ocherkadjiev. Bachmood In eastern Ukraine.
The table in front of him is stacked with paper coffee cups and cans with labels in Arabic.
Aslan is quietly sipping coffee from a cup and thinking hard about something. The 43-year-old automatically lowers the Makarov pistol he keeps in his belt, revealing his mutilated arm: a relic of his first battle with the Russians in the Chechen mountains in 2000. He was only 23 years old then.
Initially, Aslan served in Ukraine as an instructor of Ukrainian special forces. Then joined Battalion of Sheikh MansoorA unit of Chechen militia, formed in 2014, is prominent in this Veterans of the Chechen War of Independence From Russia.
Today, the 43-year-old is one of its commanders. He fights Russian troops again.
In the next room, his companion Walid begins to turn towards Mecca asr, a Muslim prayer recited at noon. Outside, in the desolate streets of Chasiv Yar, soldiers of the Ukrainian army lean quietly against old T90 tanks. They try to hide Fatigue. Cannons from both warring sides crackle in the distance, scattering flocks of birds across the sky.
“Praying for Success”
At the end of December, the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Chirsky announced. The entire east facade Fierce fighting takes place, and the Kiev army – from Kubiansk to Bagmut, via Lyman – with difficulty repelling successive waves of Russian attacks.
About 10 km north of Chasiv Yar, Russian forces – after months of fighting and at the cost of tens of thousands of lives – managed to break through Ukrainian positions in the area. Avdivki and started circling the city.
Aslan remains motionless. He was looked down upon. As a sniper during the Second Chechen War, he knows what failure feels like. Although he admits that the situation remains complicated, he does not believe in the collapse of the Ukrainian military.
“I pray for success,” Aslan admits with a smile. – When we liberate Ukraine,at
It's bad on both sides
Aslan – exiled to Norway after spending years in the prisons of Kremlin-allied leader Ramzan Kadyrov – came to Ukraine to fight a 2022 invasion by Russian forces.
– I came here Take revenge on my old enemy – he says with a cocky look.
Aslan welcomes us to his hideout near the city of Sasiv Yar. On the floor is a prayer rug facing Mecca, surrounded by military equipment. A Ukrainian flag and assault rifles hang on the wall.
Ozge Elif Kizil / AFP
Ukrainian soldiers in Chasiv Yar, December 2023.
“The situation in the Ukrainian army is difficult,” Aslan finally admits. – But honestly, it's pretty bad on the Russian side too.
Walid agrees with his friend's comments. He has a bushy beard and long black hair that falls on his shoulders. He tries to downplay the difficulties ahead.
Cannon fodder
– He says that the situation in Chechnya is much better than when we fought with the Russians. – They use it Same techniques and strategies, and the only difference is that today in Ukraine we are better trained and organized. But most importantly, for now We still have the support of the West.
The condition of the army on each side is very bad. However, Aslan insists on it Russian forces still have the advantage. But more importantly, the Russian military, with its vast manpower, still treats its soldiers as cannon fodder.
“It's like Stalin's time,” says Aslan. – They use the same technique as Bakmut.
Walid and Aslan explain that Russian soldiers sent to the front are almost impossible to withdraw. When the Russians do this, they are shot by their superiors.
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“We know what they're capable of.”
“They are throwing them at our positions like meat, and we don't have enough ammunition, missiles or men to stop them, so we are forced to withdraw gradually.” It's the only strategy they've come up with to take away our posts, but it's working. The Ukrainian army does not have everything, they explain.
However, neither Walid nor Aslan look like losers. Soldiers of their battalion – it is believed One of the best units of the Ukrainian army – usually ends up in the worst places in the front row.
During the Battle of Pakmut, Sheikh Mansur's battalion successfully held Ivanishke Road, one of the city's supply routes, which was a priority for the Russian army.
It is an honor for Aslan. “Even though we suffered many losses since the beginning of the war, we successfully completed all our missions,” he says.
Walid says the reason for their success is that they all have strengths military baseA Many soldiers have fought against Russian forces before, in Chechnya. – We know them, we do not underestimate them, but we do not overestimate them. We know what they are capable of, he adds.
Almost everything is missing from the Ukrainian army
Many of the fighters of Sheikh Mansur's battalion knew each other before the war in Ukraine and were well trained and armed, which allowed for joint, smooth and decisive operations.
In this regard, Aslan and Walid did not complain about their situation. They are grateful for outside donations — especially from the Chechen diaspora — that help them buy the equipment they need.
Ozge Elif Kizil / AFP
Chasiv Yar, December 2023
Aslan says he is very worried General position of the Ukrainian army. – There is a shortage of ammunition, missiles, artillery, aviation, air defense systems and all kinds of equipment. Ukraine withdraws because of these shortcomings, he explains.
– These are rich and powerful countries, they do not send even 10 percent to Ukraine. What she has to fight. “They didn't give us enough to break the Russian defense,” Aslan adds.
They say that The Ukrainian army still stands today because of its determination and courage. According to him, if this war is a struggle for the liberation of Ukraine and Icheria, it is also for Europe and its values.
Both soldiers insist that in the current situation, despite many withdrawals, Kiev's forces will be able to hold their positions. However, unless they receive additional support, they will not launch an offensive aimed at recapturing territory.
“Russia is at Europe's door and will not hesitate to attack,” says Aslan. – I am not exaggerating when I say that the future of Europe is decided today in Ukraine. I repeat, if Ukraine loses, there will be war in Europe, he concludes.
