Ukrainian soldiers defend vital village amid Russian offensive

“Nothing was prepared here. Nothing. Simply nothing. All defensive positions are built by infantry hands,” said a Ukrainian soldier in an interview with CNN. The soldier is part of the forces repelling the Russian attack on the Kharkiv region. The occupiers are storming the village of Lypci, located just 20 minutes from Kharkiv.

CNN reporters filmed a report from Lypci in the Kharkiv region, where fighting with Russian invaders is currently taking place. The reporters showed the life of soldiers who face the constant threat of drone attacks. They also conducted interviews that shed new light on the Russian offensive, which has been anticipated by Kyiv for many months.

Soldiers from the 13th National Guard of Kharkiv stated that the defensive positions in this area "are not prepared at all and have to be built by infantry."

The ongoing Russian offensive has a key goal: if they take the village of Lypci, they will be able to deploy artillery about 20 minutes from Kharkiv.

"There are places that Ukraine can never afford to lose, and Lypci is one of them," writes CNN. In a bunker, commander Oleksandr reviews one of the many drone feeds. “You saw yourself how everything burns. It's like this every night,” he tells reporters.

Almost two weeks ago, his men were among the first to deal with the new Russian offensive on the Kharkiv region. He says they are fighting against trained professional soldiers. “We see it in their equipment and tactics,” he says.

When asked about the fortifications that would stop the Russians, he replies briefly: "Nothing was prepared here. Nothing. Simply nothing. All positions are built by infantry hands."

The Economist wrote a few days ago about the problem with the lack of fortifications in the north of the Kharkiv region. According to The Economist, Zelensky suspects generals of lying about the situation at the front. The discussion about why Putin's army was able to organize a second invasion so easily continues. One of the special forces commanders, Denis Yaroslavski, posted a series of posts stating that Zelensky is being framed and presented with a "parallel reality."

Commander of the special forces in the Vovchansk area, Denis Yaroslavski, posted a series of entries attacking regional authorities and Zelensky on his Facebook profile.

"On May 9 around 11:00 PM, fighters from the 57th Airborne Reconnaissance Brigade's strike units observed with their own eyes how the first enemy transporters with infantry peacefully crossed the state border. The same unobstructed border crossing took place in the Hoptivka and Strelchev districts towards Kharkiv. The entire Ukraine saw the video showing soldiers calmly moving through 'prepared minefields'," wrote Yaroslavski.