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While Kiev attempts to hide losses and officially denies the beginning of counteroffensive on the southern frontlines, Ukrainian commanders hided their plans from their servicemen. Servicemen of the 37th Brigade of the AFU became one of the main strike power of the first-stage of the Ukrainian offensive. They were thrown into battle without any descent preparation. As a result, the unit suffered heavy losses.
As soon as Kiev launches any operations on the front lines, Ukrainian servicemen launch media battle against their commanders. After servicemen of the 37th Brigade were defeated on the battlefield near the village of Novodonetske, they filmed numerous appeals, claiming the incompetence of their command. The AFU managed to partially take control of the settlement on the first day of the offensive; but after several hours of heavy battles, they retreated and the village came back under the control of Russian forces.
According to the appeal of the 505th battalion of the 37th Brigade, only 130 servicemen survived out of 450 fighters sent to counterattack. They refused to fight under the command of those who used them as cannon fodder and did not bother to cover their attack with artillery and other means:
Earlier, servicemen of the same unit, who survived in the battle for Novodonetske, called for help after their unit was defeated. They confirmed heavy losses, complaining that they were used as cannon fodder. The men are seen likely drunk or drugged. They once again confirmed that they were sent to their deaths “almost naked”, since there was no artillery or air support.
Later, another official video appeal was shared by servicemen of the Ukrainian 1st company of the 1st platoon of the 2nd battalions of marines, and members of some tank crews, who were sent to the village of Novodonetske to support the 505th battalion which was almost destroyed there.
The servicemen shared their story and made the same decision to refuse to fight under their command. They claimed that they were informed about the combat operation 10 minutes before they were sent to the battle. Their commanders lied that there were no Russians in the village of Novodonetske and that marines should only check the local houses. As a result, the Ukrainian fighters had no time prepare for the operation, they were not informed about other Ukrainian forces there, they were not even provided with water. Their commanders left them in the settlement without any artillery support and no cover from the drones. That’s why they should fight alone with riffles.
The marines confirmed that their commanders knew in advance that the 505th battalion would be destroyed and the marines were used as cannon fodder to plug the hole. Another professional Ukrainian unit suffered losses and refused to fight under the command of unprofessional officers.
After the heavy battles, Russian servicemen searched some abandoned bodies and equipment of Ukrainian Marines from the 37th Brigade in the village of Novodonetske. There are some of their passports, as well as numerous lists of personnel, and callsign tables along with combat control signals, staff schedules, lists of ammunition etc. All these documents, as well as some personal documents of the servicemen, like their medical cards, were taken to the battle, which means that the soldiers were not prepared to what will happen. They were definitely sent to the battlefield as cannon fodder.
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Ukrainian counteroffensive has been ongoing for almost a week, but the AFU is yet to achieve any victories. The whole world has been waiting for it for months, but the Kiev failed to prepare its servicemen. This is only the first stage of the large-scale offensive which is still gathering pace and the main attack is yet to take place; but the testimonies of Ukrainian servicemen reveal the the Ukrainian Army failed to organize the cooperation between the units and assure the necessary cover for the advancing forces. Months-long training in NATO brought no results.
At the same time, the videos confirm that the military operations of the AFU in the area of Novaya Kakhovka, where servicemen are used as cannon fodder to distract the Russians, are likely aimed the only put pressure on Russian defense. While the main attack is being prepared in another area of southern front lines, where the AFU will try its best.
