https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230712/its-slaughter-irish-mercenary-recalls-horrors-of-ukraines-botched-counteroffensive-1060482559.html
'It's Slaughter': Irish Mercenary Recalls Horrors of Ukraine's Botched 'Counteroffensive'
'It's Slaughter': Irish Mercenary Recalls Horrors of Ukraine's Botched 'Counteroffensive'
Sputnik Africa
Ukraine embarked on its overhyped counteroffensive in early June after multiple delays. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, despite continued attempts... 12.07.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-07-12T11:29+0200
2023-07-12T11:29+0200
2023-08-03T10:43+0200
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An Irish mercenary named Rhys Byrne, who is fighting on the side of Ukraine, described the counteroffensive as "horrific" in an interview with British media.As the report notes, the mercenary described the clash, which he called "the final straw." According to him, a 40-man unit, including Ukrainians, Americans and Britons, operated without air cover. The mercenary noted that a couple of Ukrainian tanks had abandoned their positions.That said, the details, and the specific place and time of what happened were not disclosed.The report noted that the mercenaries, who got stuck in the line of Russian tank fire, began to radio for help.According to media report, a glimmer of hope appeared in the midst of the chaos when a Ukrainian soldier arrived in a pickup truck. He had ventured into the area in search of a lost satellite communications receiver.Last week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg homed in on the Ukrainian military's chief problem during the counteroffensive.On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that during the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Kiev's forces had failed to achieve their objectives in any direction. The Ukrainian military's losses since the onset of the counteroffensive in early June has exceeded 26,000 soldiers and 3,000 units of various weapons.In addition, a total of 21 Ukrainian planes, five helicopters, 1,244 tanks and other armored vehicles have been destroyed, including 17 German-made Leopard tanks and 12 US-made Bradley IFVs.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230708/around-hundred-french-mercenaries-reportedly-fighting-for-kiev--sometimes-at-their-own-expense-1060417825.html
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'It's Slaughter': Irish Mercenary Recalls Horrors of Ukraine's Botched 'Counteroffensive'
11:29 12.07.2023 (Updated: 10:43 03.08.2023) Muhammad Nooh Osman
Writer/Editor
Ukraine embarked on its overhyped counteroffensive in early June after multiple delays. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, despite continued attempts, Ukrainian troops have failed to advance on three fronts: South Donetsk, Artemovsk (Bakhmut) and Zaporozhye, the latter being of primary focus.
An Irish mercenary named Rhys Byrne, who is fighting on the side of Ukraine, described the counteroffensive as "horrific" in an interview with British media.
"On 'zero line' it's horror. It's horror. There is just a genocide. It's slaughter," the mercenary said. "There are dead people everywhere. Russians dead. Ukrainian people dead…the biggest problem we get when we're going into trenches is stepping over all the dead bodies that are already there from the last people [who] went in - that kind of stuff really haunts you."
As the report notes, the mercenary described the clash, which he called "the final straw." According to him, a 40-man unit, including Ukrainians, Americans and Britons, operated without air cover. The mercenary noted that a couple of Ukrainian tanks had abandoned their positions.
That said, the details, and the specific place and time of what happened were not disclosed.
"Byrne said they had no air cover, or drones, and a pair of Ukrainian tanks withdrew from their position," the report said.
The report noted that the
mercenaries, who got stuck in the line of Russian tank fire, began to radio for help.
According to media report, a glimmer of hope appeared in the midst of the chaos when a Ukrainian soldier arrived in a pickup truck. He had ventured into the area in search of a lost satellite communications receiver.
"We are not supposed to be alive. I mean, we were closer than close to death, it was closer than close... it was really f***** up," Byrne said.
Last week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg homed in on the Ukrainian military's chief problem during the counteroffensive.
"The Ukrainians have made progress, but they face fierce fighting," he said. "They face tough terrain, and they face dug-in Russian resistance," Stoltenberg said, noting that there were many prepared defensive lines established by the Russians.
On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that during the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Kiev's forces had failed to achieve their objectives in any direction. The Ukrainian military's losses since the onset of the counteroffensive in early June has exceeded 26,000 soldiers and 3,000 units of various weapons.
In addition, a total of 21 Ukrainian planes, five helicopters, 1,244 tanks and other armored vehicles have been destroyed, including 17 German-made Leopard tanks and 12 US-made Bradley IFVs.
