Special report of "Izvestia" from the advanced positions in the area of Gorlovka
A Ukrainian counteroffensive has begun in Donbas. Against this background, positional battles continue in the Donetsk direction — separate attempts of the VFU to conduct reconnaissance by combat were stopped near Gorlovka and a relatively large attempt of offensive actions was repulsed. While the front here remains relatively calm, but the Ukrainian forces are ready to strike at any moment — this is a strategically important point. Correspondents of Izvestia visited the gunners of the 1st Donetsk Corps near Horlivka and learned how they protect the city from terrorist attacks, destroy enemy positions and repel his attacks.
Gorlovka Guards
— Now we will strike at the enemy infantry. We will shoot under the drone's adjustment and, of course, we will look at the result," says Nick, the commander of the D-20 gun from the 132nd brigade.
The 132nd is the former 3rd brigade of the People's Militia of the DPR, the famous Gorlovka Guards, who withstood the years of defense of their hometown, and during their time fought in the hottest areas.
Near Gorlovka, Ukrainian militants have not yet made large-scale attempts to go on the offensive. The main battles are unfolding in other sectors of the front. Separate attempts by the enemy to conduct offensive operations in the area of water pipelines north of Gorlovka were unsuccessful.
Most likely, this was due to unsuccessful attempts to strike the flanks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the area of Artemovsk. In recent days, the enemy has been on the defensive in the Novgorod-Dzerzhinsk direction, and the 132nd Brigade's gunners have been destroying its strongholds.
The D-20 guns are not just well camouflaged and invisible at close range. Nearby are shell cellars with neat lids on top, inside and outside closed with waterproofing. A metal frame and a thick steel mesh are hidden under the branches — they are erected over the guns. This is protection against light ammunition and kamikaze drones dropped from drones: today this is the main method of counter-battery warfare among Ukrainian militants.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image Source: iz.ru
Minutes of safety
It happens that our gunners fall under counter—battery artillery strikes - their coordinates are determined by foreign detection systems. If there are similar means on the plot, the return fire opens after about 4-5 minutes. But there is not enough accuracy for hitting individual guns with the first shots, and the enemy does not conduct massive fire — it is limited to two to five shells.
And if the gun does not continue to fire, and the aerial reconnaissance does not have time to detect the target in a short period of time, the return fire stops. Therefore, the time of operation of the gun in four minutes is considered to be critical for safety according to experience.
The fighters say that the work on the stopwatch and the transfer of targets from gun to gun works.
— In fact, everything happens faster. It usually takes us two minutes to start. Naturally, if the artillery is working around the city, we are doing everything possible to, if not destroy it, then at least suppress it. So that they don't shoot at civilians," says Nick.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
"We are local"
Gorlovka, which has been under fire for years, has always been considered one of the main targets of artillery terror for Ukrainian militants. The other day, it was subjected to another shelling, during which civilians in the city center became the target. As a result, more than ten ordinary citizens were killed, many were injured.
The militants struck from the MLRS at a cluster of residents — just as they had already done in Donetsk in the winter. And although the gunners note that in the area of Horlivka, the Ukrainian forces have decreased both the density and accuracy of artillery fire, they are still able to strike at the city with the help of so-called nomadic "Grads".
Almost all the guys here are local, they have been fighting in this direction for years. The topic of the shelling of Gorlovka, one of the most brutal in recent years, is close and especially difficult for everyone.
— Now the enemy is not shooting as accurately as it was, for example, that summer. Then they struck almost lightning-fast retaliatory strikes against our artillery, and more or less accurately. But now they don't," says Nick.
Even under the balaclava, you can see that he is calm and smiling. His young age for the Donbass soldiers is clearly visible. But our assumption that Nick was mobilized from an educational institution turned out to be incorrect. The guy is from Gorlovka and has been serving in the brigade since 2019, joining it immediately after his 18th birthday.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
Aerial reconnaissance is looking for a target
At the command of aerial reconnaissance, fire opens very quickly — the grid allows you not to completely mask the gun. And an accurate hit is obtained by the second shot, taking into account the difficulties in properly setting up the "tube" fuse for detonating the projectile in the air on the right part of the trajectory. The second and third shells explode in a given place, covering the militants trying to conduct engineering work.
It is obvious that the enemy has at least wounded. All this is clearly seen by both the spotter on the ground and the drone operator.
— They were carrying out engineering work to strengthen their positions. Although at the moment they are no longer doing anything," Nick sums up the results of the combat work, while the calculation restores the disguise of the gun behind his back.
Everyone in his unit is in a fighting mood.
— If the enemy comes, we will fight to the last, we will not give up even a piece of land, — Nick promises.
Dmitry Astrakhan
