'They are hitting the Russian positions in Urozhaine, which our guys are trying to liberate.' Russia's 1st line of defence 'especially strong'

' now is firing in front of the advancing infantry,' said another Ukrainian soldier with the call sign Khomiak. In this sector of the front line, the Ukrainians are in full attack mode, something underscored by their use of artillery. ‘Excalibur,’ a soldier with the Ukrainian army's 68th Brigade, says that Russian defences are ‘extensive.’ (Oskar Hallgrimsson/CBC)Īll of the Ukrainian soldiers interviewed only identified themselves by their call sign or first name, as per the army's restriction for active-duty military personnel. During a recent visit to the front line, a French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzer emerged from a nearby forest to set up on a crossroads, firing five shells in as many minutes before moving yet again to evade any Russian response. Seven or eight kilometres back, artillery continues its deadly work. On the line of contact itself, Ukrainian troops hammer Russian defenders with constant assaults, keeping the pressure up and searching for weak points. The front lines themselves are divided into two areas.

The bulk of them are south of the village of Velyka Novosilka, which we visited recently alongside Ukraine's 68th Brigade.

More than three weeks since the long-awaited summer offensive began, Ukraine has only retaken a handful of villages along the southern frontlines, as confirmed by geolocated photos and videos. A year and half into the war, Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia might not look particularly impressive on the map, but at the front, it's clear that progress is being made - albeit slowly.

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