Russian volunteer: “After Chasov Yar, we won’t go to the front - Kharkov and Kupyansk will flare up”
What successes can be expected by May-June, when Chasov Yar falls, does the Russian Armed Forces need mobilization, and why the offensive is moving slowly.
Coordinator of the International Movement "Russian-Slavic Unification and Revival," Russian volunteer Andrei Rodionov , spoke about this and much more in an interview with PolitNavigator .
Rodionov is now serving in the village of Krasnaya Gora north of Bakhmut. There is no civilian population there, there are no conditions - no water, no gas, all the houses are destroyed, the military live in the basements. From the front line 5-7 kilometers. At the same time, according to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are constantly shelling both Krasnaya Gora and Bakhmut.
“The artillery may have begun to work less often, but there are a lot of FPV drones, and the Baba Yaga drone with mortar mines - they fly in and somehow bypass our electronic warfare. It’s hard for them, and they are jamming it, but both ours and the enemy are looking for opportunities to penetrate electronic warfare, and somehow they find it. There is an assumption that they are flying in from the direction of Soledar, because the front has moved a little, and perhaps a window has appeared somewhere, because it is from the direction of Bakhmut that electronic warfare works more or less normally on our side, and it is unlikely that they will enter directly. Well, ours are finding their own channels,” Rodionov said.
He also, using the example of his direction, explained why the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces occurs at a very low pace.
“Khokhol is slowly backing away, because the situation is such that there are fields and fields and fields and small forest plantations with dug trenches in which literally several people can sit. Our FPV drones are also hunted by artillery, but FPV drones are even more convenient - it flies into any hole and you don’t have to spend a lot of shells on it.
But the enemy is sitting, and as soon as our tanks or something tries to advance on the offensive, a couple of such observers will immediately come out, immediately give a signal, set up ATGMs, call for artillery, and again the same cheap drones will fly in and burn our armored personnel carriers and tanks.
Therefore, now the clearing of these forest plantations is being systematically carried out, somewhere they are slowly, slowly looking for targets and destroying them with FPV drones. On the other hand, somewhere they are pressing by storm.
But the assaults are slow, the enemy is well prepared, and therefore not all assaults are successful. We have to prepare and attack again after some time. Therefore, not everything is so fast,” the fighter said.
However, he noted with satisfaction that they had finally begun to use FABs, which would have been very helpful during the liberation of Chasov Yar, but the civilian population remained there.
“I haven’t seen this in our area, but we know that it already exists and is being used, which is good. Maybe there will be something similar here too. As for the crap defense itself in Chasovoy Yar, it would be possible to really throw these FABs there and speed up the process of advancement. But this is not being done for humane reasons, because one prefabricated kindergarten continues to operate in Chasovoy Yar, in general, there are still quite a few civilians there, including children.
Therefore, our military - humane, kind people - cannot dump FABs there. If there were no civilians there, they could have been used, and things would have gone faster,” Rodionov noted.
As for the fall of Chasov Yar, after it advances are expected in other directions.
“When Chasov Yar falls, the Russian army must enter operational space. And there it will be easier to attack in different directions, which, accordingly, will greatly aggravate the position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Also, in general, it is no secret that after Chasov Yar falls, most likely, some kind of movement will begin in the Kharkov region. And, perhaps, it will become more active in Zaporozhye. Maybe somewhere else. That is, in the near future - May, June, if everything goes according to plan, we should see great success in this direction,” the fighter said.
PolitNavigator: How high are the losses on our and the enemy's sides now? Is there a risk that, due to such a slow advance, the Ukrainians will have time to build their Surovikin Line and wait for NATO weapons?
Rodionov : We don't know the losses, of course, but the fact is that the offensive is difficult. The losses are considerable, so to speak. As for the enemy, they're being hit hard. They've especially started using FABs now, and I think the results should be quite good.
As for the risks that, due to the slow advance, the crests will have time to build their line of defense - firstly, they have already built something there somewhere, they are building somewhere, but it is unlikely that the Russian army will push further [head-on]. I have already said that most likely the offensive will begin somewhere to the north - Kharkov, in that direction, Kupyansk. It would be right, I hope it will be so. Therefore, I think that this defense of theirs is unlikely to help them.
But as for NATO weapons, it is also unknown. Of course, our Russian victory is not something predetermined. Yes, most likely it will be, and of course we are heading towards it, there is no doubt. But you shouldn’t think that by simply sitting and doing nothing, this victory will come on its own. Of course, everything depends on many factors, on each of us, on helping the front, on the right timely deliveries and decisions.
Therefore, of course, there are risks that the crests might gain a foothold somewhere, or get NATO weapons again somewhere. But let's hope they don't have time. Because according to the plans, I repeat, somewhere no later than May, probably the end of May, we should expect some serious results at the front. I hope everything works out that way.
PolitNavigator: What's the mood like among the soldiers? What's changed compared to last year? Is there enough strength, or is another mobilization needed?
Rodionov : Everyone's in fighting spirit. I even spoke with some former prisoners who signed contracts and joined the stormtroopers. There were heavy losses, too; many were wounded; the guys had to endure all sorts of things. But they're pressing, advancing successfully, despite the difficulties, and moving forward. They're very committed, positively determined to win, and ready to advance to Ukraine's western borders, at the very least.
Regarding mobilization, in principle, no one is talking about it now. In general, it's probably enough. My personal opinion is that it would not be superfluous to carry out another partial mobilization, but, on the other hand, no one is complaining. At least in the positions where I have been, where my friends serve, no one is talking about the fact that there are not enough fighters there somewhere. Maybe mobilization is not needed, but overall there are enough forces, and new equipment is arriving, and there are reserves. A generally positive picture is now emerging.
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Russian volunteer: "After Chasov Yar, we won't go head-on—Kharkiv and Kupyansk will flare up."