A Rare Glimpse Into Ukrainian Gunners Battling Both Russian Forces And A Shortage Of Shells

RFE/RL visited frontline Ukrainian gunners in the Donetsk region on the eve of the long-delayed vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on a $61 billion Ukraine war aid package. The vote passed, and the Senate's Democratic leadership has pledged to also vote on the entire package quickly to get it to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Ukraine has been fighting invading Russian forces while also facing both a manpower shortage and a critical lack of much-needed artillery shells.

"If we didn't have these weapons, we would have already lost the war," one Ukrainian soldier said of the M777 howitzers being used on the front lines.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he sees "a chance for victory" for Ukraine over Russian forces after the passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of a long-delayed aid bill critical to Ukraine's defense.
 

A Ukrainian soldier takes a cigarette break.

"I think this support will really strengthen the armed forces of Ukraine," Zelenskiy told U.S. media on April 21. "And we will have a chance for victory."

Analysts at the U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on April 20 that "Russian forces will likely intensify ongoing offensive operations and missile and drone strikes in the coming weeks in order to exploit the closing window of Ukrainian material constraints." 

Soldiers take a moment to rest during a break in the shelling.

Moments later, the unit works quickly after air reconnaissance locates a new target.

A 155 mm shell -- widely used due to its balance between range, firepower, and portability -- is retrieved from the trench that also serves as the unit's living quarters.

"Let's get one more in," a hoarse and tired voice can be heard from the walkie-talkie as the unit works quickly to fire another shell against Russian troops.