Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
Fatigue And Frustration As Ukraine Soldiers On
Ukrainian soldiers fire a Swedish-made Archer self-propelled howitzer at Russian positions in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine on December 16.
Kyiv's forces are facing a shortage of artillery shells and have scaled back some military operations because of a shortfall in foreign assistance, a senior army general told Reuters.
A soldier from Ukraine's 45th Artillery Brigade feeds a stray dog near the Archer self-propelled howitzer.
Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy was speaking after Republican lawmakers held up a U.S. aid package and Hungary blocked European Union funding for Kyiv as it battles Russia's invasion.
A Ukrainian soldier patrols the forest.
"There's a problem with ammunition, especially post-Soviet [shells] - that's 122-millimeter, 152-mlillimeter [shells]. And today these problems exist across the entire front line," Tarnavskiy said in an interview, adding that the shortage of artillery shells was a "very big problem" and the drop in foreign military aid was having an impact on the battlefield.
Ukrainian soldiers ride aboard a truck in the Donetsk region.
"The volumes that we have today are not sufficient for us today, given our needs. So, we're redistributing it. We're replanning tasks that we had set for ourselves and making them smaller because we need to provide for them," General Tarnavskiy said, without providing details.
Ukrainian soldiers enjoy a cigarette break near the entrance to their dugout during a lull in fighting near Bakhmut on December 15.
Prior to Tarnavskiy's remarks, Kyiv had said its forces had no intention of letting up the fight and would soldier on.
A kettle of boiling water captures the attention of a Ukrainian soldier in his dugout.
“If we won’t have a single bullet, we will kill them with shovels,” said Serhiy, a commander in the 59th Brigade, which is active in the eastern city of Avdiyivka, who spoke on condition that only his first name be used.
Soldiers eat and rest in their dugout.
“Sure, everyone is tired of war, physically and mentally. But imagine if we stop — what happens next?” Serhiy added.
A soldier carries shells to a self-propelled howitzer.
A soldier adjusts the camouflage above a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.
A soldier covers his ears as the Gvozdivka fires onto Russian positions near Bakhmut.
After 22 months of war along the 1,000-kilometer front line, neither Ukraine nor Russia are gaining significant ground.