The Harrowing Tale of a Bloody Battle: Confronting the Fear of Death in an Eastern Ukrainian Trench
Amidst relentless Russian bombardment, a Ukrainian soldier, crippled and stranded in a narrow trench, pleads to his comrades, 'Leave me, I can't move' This gripping account reveals the harrowing story of a bloody battle in eastern Ukraine, where bravery and mortality collide (343 characters)
"Please, guys, just leave me here. I can't walk," pleads a Ukrainian soldier, as he sits in a narrow trench enduring relentless Russian bombardment.
His legs have been wounded by shrapnel and blood seeps through the bandages. He smokes a cigarette as he lies on the ground, while the unit's medic crouches low in the trench, desperately trying to patch him up.
Just moments earlier, four enemy tanks had passed within meters, prompting him and his comrades to take cover in the dark, rich soil that trembled as the tanks rumbled by. The unit's mission was to reclaim 150 meters of trenches near the tree line in the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, a highly disputed area on the Ukrainian frontline.
Avdiivka has been at the forefront since separatists loyal to Moscow took control of large parts of the Donbas region, including the nearby city of Donetsk, in 2014. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the town has been under constant attack.
Both Ukrainian and Russian forces view Avdiivka as a heavily fortified stronghold, with defenses strengthened over the past eight years. Intense fighting has been ongoing for over a month as Russian forces carry out a massive assault, launching continuous shelling and deploying waves of soldiers and armored vehicles in an effort to surround the town.
Sentsov and his unit filmed a 5-hour battle on helmet and body cameras in the trenches of Avdiivka, eastern Ukraine, on October 19, 2023
CNN
Russian forces have been repelled by the Ukrainian troops who are heavily entrenched in the area.
In the trenches of Avdiivka, Ukrainian company commander Oleh Sentsov bravely leads his men despite coming under fire. A well-known filmmaker, Sentsov was imprisoned by the Russians for five years before joining the 47th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces as a soldier.
He has participated in some of the most intense battles of the war, including Bakhmut in the Zaporizhzhia region, and now Avdiivka.
On October 19, he and his fellow soldiers recorded a 5-hour long battle using helmet and body cameras, revealing the brutality of war and the horrors of trench warfare.
In a rare interview with CNN, Sentsov described the efforts to secure a nearly 1-kilometer long forest landing area and hold a 150-meter wide trench, while facing strong resistance from enemy infantry. As his unit fought to maintain their position in the tree line, two Russian brigades started advancing through the area.
They were surrounded on all sides and under attack from Russian troops, with constant fire from enemy drones, artillery, and tanks passing dangerously close to their positions. Ukrainian military drone footage captured four Russian tanks firing on the tree line, where three Ukrainian assault groups were spread out over a kilometer.
Sentsov's squad, situated in the center of the formation, was the sole group to escape unscathed.
"This was the initial mission in which my team was unable to accomplish the operation," stated Sentsov.
Three men in his team sustained injuries, including Sentsov. In the video, a paramedic can be seen working swiftly to apply chest seals and bandages to the wounded members. "We were forced to retreat as we were unable to maintain our positions. Our group left with injuries but we managed to survive. Unfortunately, the other two groups that were also attacking alongside us were nearly wiped out," he explained.
Filmmaker and deputy commander of a Kyiv unit Oleh Sentsov, in the room he shares with members of his unit on March 10, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Laurent Van Der Stockt/Getty Images
The fight for the city
Avdiivka is under attack while the war's front lines remain mostly unchanged. Ukraine's counteroffensive is progressing more slowly than expected. Analysts believe that Russia's goal is to surround the city and gain control of high ground near an industrial site, which would allow Russia to control Ukrainian supply routes effectively.
Earlier in the month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to the fighting in Avdiivka as an "onslaught" and remarked that the outcome of the battle will significantly impact the overall course of the war. "The more Russian forces are eliminated near Avdiivka at this moment, the more challenging the situation and the overall course of the war will be for the enemy," he stated.
Ever since the renewed Russian offensive on the city began, Ukraine asserts that it has dealt significant damage to Russian military personnel and equipment. Russia appears to have transitioned to the "meat-grinder" tactic used against Ukrainian forces defending the city of Bakhmut. "The enemy is launching relentless assaults, sacrificing more and more soldiers," stated Vitalii Barabash, the head of the Avdiivka city military administration, last month. "The Russians have made the decision to persist and continue advancing, regardless of the losses."
The town of Avdiivka in Donetsk region, Ukraine, displays the devastation caused by continuous Russian military strikes on residential buildings as part of their ongoing attack on Ukraine, as seen in this image taken on November 8, 2023.
Barabash stated on Monday that intense battles are ongoing in the industrial area near a coke plant, but Ukrainian forces are maintaining their position.
"He reported on telegram that we have successfully repelled all enemy attacks from the south and north. The defense line remains strong. Our military positions are under constant shelling and small arms battles persist throughout the day and night."
Pro-Russian bloggers are asserting that Moscow's forces have achieved some progress in the industrial zone. According to pro-Russian Wargonzo, this is a significant tactical victory as it has breached the fortified defense line of the AFU. However, CNN is unable to confirm these claims independently.
Despite continuous heavy shelling round the clock, the National Police in Donetsk region reports that nearly 1,300 residents are still present in Avdiivka.
Acceptance of death
Sentsov said he believes that acceptance of death is essential for those who are fighting.
"He said that individuals who refuse to acknowledge the possibility of being killed have no place in the war. Accepting the risk of death is a necessary aspect of being in combat. The experience is always terrifying," he said.
The fighting in the trenches has become a fundamental element of the conflict in Ukraine.
Small assault teams are engaged in intense battles for every meter of contested ground. Typically, soldiers launch their attacks during the cover of night or early morning, seizing control of sections of the trench and advancing through it, sometimes while enemy forces are still present.
"This is the reality of warfare. Approximately 90% of our assault operations are conducted in this manner," Sentsov stated.
"It's reassuring to hear the voices of the Russians in their positions. It indicates that they've revealed their location. It's more concerning when you don't hear anything. You might assume they're not there, but as you walk down the trench, they could be lying in wait. It's an ambush."
Libkos/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Everything is destroyed: Civilians trickle out of Avdiivka as Russian assault leaves Ukrainian town in ruins
Sentsov finds it just as challenging to organize a large group of people on a movie set as it is to organize a military unit. "Having combat skills is important, but the key is effectively organizing people," he explained.
Sentsov emphasized the need for Ukraine to prepare for a prolonged war and devise a strategic plan in the event that the conflict continues for several years.
"We haven't lost, but we also haven't won this war. Instead of contemplating the aftermath of victory, we should focus on securing victory as quickly as possible... It's important to acknowledge that victory won't come overnight," he stated.
The father of four, with his youngest child being just one year old, expressed his determination to continue defending his country's right to exist.
He stated, "All wars are terrible. There are no good wars. People always suffer and die in war. The only question is why they suffer and why they die. Russians are being deceived by Putin's propaganda. Ukrainians are primarily fighting as volunteers for their freedom on their own soil."
"Right now, people are dying for freedom near Avdiivka, near Robotyne, and other places. And there is nothing more important than that."
