A hissing sound breaks the silence. It is Russian rocket artillery being fired a few kilometers away.
– There is much more intense bombing now compared to before, says the officer who shows TV 2 around the trenches.
The smoke rising from a crater, close to where we entered, makes us believe in him.
INTENSE BOMBING: Shortly before we arrived, the position was hit by a rocket attack. Photo: Oleksandr Techynskyi
– It is the result of a direct hit on one of our bomb bays. Be careful, it’s still burning, says the officer.
We have been given strict orders not to give the names of those we speak to. And we are asked to be careful with what we film and take pictures of.
They fear we can reveal where the position we visit is.
– Do not film here. Follow the trench, and don’t film the horizon, we are told.
Moving forward
Every ten meters, soldiers stand and watch what happens south of the position. It is from that direction that the Russians may come.
Several villages have already been laid in ruins by the Russians, who are trying to break through the Ukrainian defense lines.
KEEPING A LOOK: The soldiers are sure that they will be able to stop a Russian offensive. Photo: Bent Skjærstad
– Now they are probably five kilometers away, the soldiers say.
We have driven around the area which is close to the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk. The boom of artillery can be heard everywhere. In some places we can also hear gunfire.
Can strike at any time
From one of the lookouts, the officer points down towards an abandoned farmhouse.
– Right down there on the ground, there are regular artillery hits. Right now it’s a little quieter. but the situation is fluid. Within half an hour the situation can change. We expect a match at any time, he says.
Here on this hill in Donetsk, most of the soldiers have been for months. They have built a fort that will help keep the Russians away from the strategically important city of Pokrovsk.
When they rest between shifts, they do so in cramped bomb rooms. They show us one of the rooms. Four to six men usually sleep in there, close together.
CROSS COURSE: The soldiers live in bomb shelters underground. Many of them have been here for months without a break. Photo: Bent Skjærstad
– Our machine gun unit rests in here when they are not on duty. They live here. We try to organize it so that they can eat and live here.
Cold helps the Russians
The officers tell us that the weather is on the Russians’ side. Freezing winter weather ensures frost on the ground. It makes it easier to advance with tanks and other vehicles.
TENSE SITUATION: After a short time we are asked to leave the position. New attacks can come at any time. Photo: Oleksandr Techynskyi
During the last few weeks, the Russians have been attacking new areas along the eastern front line. The situation is very tense. And after a short time we are asked to leave again.
– We expect even more attacks from the Russians in the future. But we are going to stop them, one of the officers tells us as we are driven out of the area.
