“That is us, we’re attacking Russian positions near Hostomel,” a Ukrainian soldier says, because the photographs fireplace in a synchronized rhythm.
On this specific occasion, the rockets the Ukrainian navy is utilizing to focus on Moscow’s invading troops are literally Russian.
“Final evening we despatched the Ukrainian armed forces 24 Uragan missiles that had been on their manner right here to fly over our cities,” says Yuri Golodov, the deputy commander of one in every of Ukraine’s Territorial Forces and a retired seaman from the Ukrainian Navy.
“We captured them intact, gave them to the Armed Forces of Ukraine at evening and now the Ukrainian military has fired missiles again at them,” Golodov says.
Golodov performs a key function in repurposing navy gear deserted by the Russian military — or captured from it.
He leads a staff working at a navy junkyard at an undisclosed location in Kyiv, repairing and repainting Russian navy gear to be used by Ukrainian forces.
“Every little thing that we take away from the Russian military, we switch to the armed forces of Ukraine,” he says.
A second life for broken weapons
When CNN visited the junkyard, Ukrainian forces had been stripping naked an artillery assist automobile, used to identify targets.
The Ukrainian flag had been painted over Russian navy symbols, and Golodov’s unit was eradicating communications gear earlier than sending it again onto the entrance line.
“We will use it to move the wounded,” he says, including it’s going to make an “vital” contribution to Ukraine’s battle effort.
“This can be a very correct cross-country automobile. It might deal with any swamp or snow.”
A lot of the gear utilized by the Russian navy is analogous or the identical to that utilized by Ukrainian troopers, so that they’re aware of its operation.
“It dates again to the Soviet Union,” Golodov says. “It’s fairly dependable.”
“Every little thing is in working situation. It appears to be like outdated weaponry, however really should you use it appropriately it’s going to serve us for a very long time,” he provides.
Golodov says his battalion can be accountable for capturing among the gear within the yard.
“We’re particular forces battalion of deep reconnaissance which works behind enemy strains,” he explains. “Our job is to destroy the availability of the Russian military — ammunition, gasoline, meals.”
Weapons seized from troops beneath fireplace
Across the nook, a former Russian military gasoline truck is able to be redeployed and, beneath the quilt of a camouflage blanket, a captured armored personnel provider awaits its subsequent task.
It’s outdated, rusty and heavy Soviet period equipment that breaks the pavement, as members of the Ukrainian Territorial Protection Forces transfer it round, however the troopers right here say they are going to put it to good use.
In line with Golodov, the automobile was captured by his unit, once they attacked a Russian column.
“We shot on the first automobile, and when it exploded the column stopped,” he says. “(Russian troopers) ran away and we took their navy gear.”
In line with Golodov and his males, it is a frequent incidence on the battlefield.
“Russian troopers are frightened, demoralized. They’re afraid to half with one another, as a result of they’re being shot at from each bush,” he says.
He says some appear to be very younger and inexperienced: “Most of them have no idea or perceive why they’re right here.”
Ukraine’s Territorial Protection forces are equally inexperienced. Most did not have any type of navy coaching earlier than the Russian invasion, however the males say they’re prepared for battle.
In one other a part of the power, troopers armed with AK-47s, practice for a potential encounter with Russian troops. They transfer in teams in an organized method and appear unfazed when their commander fires blanks of their route.
Golodov appears to be like on, proud. Earlier than he retired from the navy, he says he frolicked with the Soviet Union’s north fleet in Mursmansk, northwestern Russia, and says he is aware of what Russian forces are able to.
He tells us he isn’t stunned by how nicely Ukraine has fared within the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
“The power of the Russian military is nothing greater than a fantasy,” he says, assured in a Ukrainian victory. “How can somebody probably suppose in any other case?”
