For the first time since invading their country in February, Ukraine is genuinely optimistic that the war with Russia will end soon, according to the authors of the latest issue of the Sky News Ukraine War Diaries podcast.
This week, after months of stalemate, Ukrainian forces launched an unexpected counterattack they say has led to significant territorial gains in the hotly contested Donbass region.
“Ukrainian forces have launched an offensive operation in the north and east of Kharkiv Oblast. We managed to recover what the Russians tried to take for several months [in] Five to six days – says Elias, whose wife and two children are currently hiding in Poland.
Click to subscribe to Ukraine War Diary, wherever you get your podcast
“All the people here around me feel like they have this ray of light in their lives because you can see the process going on,” she continues.
“People are also very motivated and inspired, and it feels like at some point everything returns to normal.
“I know we’ll have an operational break at some point and it won’t be all the time, but what we’re seeing now is an absolute miracle.”
He adds:
We know that this war will only end with a victory for Ukraine”.
Ukrainian forces, backed by military aid from the United States and Europe, claim to have reclaimed more than 6,000 square kilometers in the east of the country.
This is familiar territory for Siva’s military volunteer. He comes from the Dnieper, but has been managing supplies for the troops at the front in the Donbass for five months.
Speaking from Poland, returning from a mission in Europe to retrieve the modified SUV from the front lines, Seva says the past week has been “very intense”.
“We have the occupied Kharkiv region, it is a great success for us and we hope that everything will go in the same direction.
“It was really cool when people stopped and showed their big toe [thumbs up]I wish us victory, the occupation of our lands and victory over Russia.
“A lot of people were smiling when I was driving [SUV] They wave their hands. It was a really good, good, great feeling.”
However, despite this week’s military successes, Kyiv-based Oksana found news of alleged war crimes in the restored lands disturbing.
“To see people under occupation for almost six months welcoming our soldiers is incredible. [both] It hurts and it hurts.
She says she reminds her of Bucha. At the start of the war, Sky News verified two videos showing the corpse on the city streets, in one of at least seven pavement kills. Satellite images showed signs of a 45ft high mass grave. Russia has denied any responsibility.
Oksana, however, sees the similarities.
“You know, reading the horror that took place during the occupation, there are a lot of young godfathers in the Kharkiv region with torture chambers, you know, all the horror that the Russian army brings to Ukraine.”
From the creators of the award-winning Sky News StoryCast series, Ukraine War Diaries is a weekly podcast that follows people on the new frontline in Europe and those who have escaped.
Producer: Robert Mulhern
Digital Promotion and Additional Writing: David Chipakupaku
