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Such prisoner assaults – waves of poorly equipped recruits from Russia’s jails who are often described as “cannon fodder” – are used to expose Ukrainian firing positions, so better trained Russian soldiers can engage them, he said.
He added: “They stand till the death. I don’t understand their motivation. Or what they are fighting for.”
His troops showed a small Russian booklet entitled, “Why we fight,” found in captured Russian positions, which provides a warped narrative of the invasion’s causes, saying Russia had been attacked and was left with no choice but to defend itself.
Another Staromayorske liberator, callsign “Reva,” carried a captured modern AK-12 Russian assault rifle as he described the apparent Russian use of an irritant gas on the frontlines.
“There was chaotic [Russian] shooting, to find out where we were. Then the gas. You don’t feel it. It moves slow near the ground. I was packing my rucksack when I felt burning in my throat and nose,” he recalled.
Even the mines the Russians laid were booby-trapped.
A young military deminer who goes by the call-sign Volt, described how anti-tank mines he found were laid with a grenade beneath them, so the grenade would detonate if the larger mine were moved, causing a dual blast. His explanation was interrupted by loud outgoing rocket fire.
Ukraine has picked up the pace, and is moving. Its troops just do not know how much further this bitter fight will continue.