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Inside the Kyiv junkyard that recycles Russian weapons for Ukrainian forces
“That is us, we’re attacking Russian positions near Hostomel,” a Ukrainian soldier says, because the photographs hearth in a synchronized rhythm.
On this explicit occasion, the rockets the Ukrainian army is utilizing to focus on Moscow’s invading troops are literally Russian.
“Final evening we despatched the Ukrainian armed forces 24 Uragan missiles that have been on their approach right here to fly over our cities,” says Yuri Golodov, the deputy commander of certainly one 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 army gear deserted by the Russian military — or captured from it.
He leads a staff working at a army junkyard at an undisclosed location in Kyiv, repairing and repainting Russian army gear to be used by Ukrainian forces.
“Every part 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 have been stripping naked an artillery help car, used to identify targets.
The Ukrainian flag had been painted over Russian army 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 can make an “vital” contribution to Ukraine’s warfare effort.
“This can be a very correct cross-country car. It might deal with any swamp or snow.”
A lot of the gear utilized by the Russian army is analogous or the identical to that utilized by Ukrainian troopers, in order that they’re aware of its operation.
“It dates again to the Soviet Union,” Golodov says. “It’s fairly dependable.”
“Every part is in working situation. It appears to be like previous weaponry, however truly in the event you use it appropriately it can serve us for a very long time,” he provides.
Golodov says his battalion can also be accountable for capturing a few of the gear within the yard.
“We’re particular forces battalion of deep reconnaissance which works behind enemy traces,” he explains. “Our activity is to destroy the supply of the Russian military — ammunition, gas, meals.”
Weapons seized from troops beneath hearth
Across the nook, a former Russian military gas truck is able to be redeployed and, beneath the duvet of a camouflage blanket, a captured armored personnel service awaits its subsequent project.
It’s previous, 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 may put it to good use.
In accordance with Golodov, the car was captured by his unit, after they attacked a Russian column.
“We shot on the first car, and when it exploded the column stopped,” he says. “(Russian troopers) ran away and we took their army gear.”
In accordance 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 army coaching earlier than the Russian invasion, however the males say they’re prepared for battle.
In one other a part of the ability, 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 hung out 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 effectively Ukraine has fared within the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
“The power of the Russian military is nothing greater than a delusion,” he says, assured in a Ukrainian victory. “How can somebody presumably suppose in any other case?”