Latest news with #2S1Gvozdika
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Russia says it captures 3 more settlements in east Ukraine
FILE PHOTO: A serviceman of the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops in a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ivan Anatolii Stepanov/File Photo Russia says it captures 3 more settlements in east Ukraine MOSCOW - Russian troops advancing slowly on the eastern front of the war in Ukraine have captured two settlements in Donetsk region as well as one in Ukraine's northern region of Sumy, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Since their failed advance on the capital Kyiv in the first weeks of the war, Russian forces have focused on capturing the Donbas in the east, made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In recent months, Moscow has also tried to advance in Sumy region, particularly after Russia's military said it had ousted Ukrainian troops from the Russian border region of Kursk. A Russian Defence Ministry statement said its forces had captured the village of Stupochky in Donetsk region, east of Kostiantynivka, a town under recent Russian pressure. It also said it had taken control of Otradne, a village further west along the 1,000-km front and announced the capture of Loknya, a village inside the Russian border in Sumy region. The general staff of Ukraine's military acknowledged no such losses, referring to Otradne as one of several towns where Ukrainian troops had halted 18 frontline Russian attacks. It referred to Stupochky earlier this week as part of an area under Russian attack. For months, Ukraine has reported attempts by Russian forces to occupy areas of Sumy region, but has never acknowledged the capture of any of them. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield accounts from either side. Ukraine's popular DeepState military blog, which uses open source reports, said Russian forces had for the first time "been able to take up positions" along a line of border villages. Russia's Defence Ministry on Friday announced the capture of Radkivka, a village outside the northeastern city of Kupiansk, which has been under pressure for months. On Saturday, Kupiansk Mayor Andrii Besedin said the attacks were taking a toll, including two city workers killed on Friday. "We are seeing awful losses among our people, our colleagues who give their lives so the city can go on living," Besedin told national television. "Sadly, as of now, the city is 90% destroyed." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Under fire on front line, Ukrainian soldiers doubt talks will bring peace
By Herbert Villarraga and Alina Smutko KYIV (Reuters) - While Russian and Ukrainian officials arrived in Turkey for a fresh attempt at direct peace talks, Roman, a 26-year-old Ukrainian artillery commander, raced to man his artillery gun after Russian strikes landed near his position. The scene on Thursday evening served as a reminder that, on the front line, peace is a distant prospect, even as Russian and Ukrainian officials assembled in Turkey for the first talks since 2022. Speaking to Reuters before the exchange of artillery fire, Roman - who uses the call sign "Cowboy" - said he had little faith Russia would agree to a demand from Kyiv and Western states for a 30-day ceasefire. "At the moment peace is not possible," Roman said. "We are certain that the enemy is not going to stop. Our task, as soldiers, is to hold our positions, keep on fighting, not to give up." The group of soldiers commanded by Roman - who did not give his full name in line with Ukrainian military protocol - was dug into woodland in Ukraine's Donetsk region, which is largely controlled by Russian forces. Late on Thursday, they had received orders to direct fire on Russian positions from their 2S1 Gvozdika, a Soviet-designed self-propelled howitzer. Before they could begin firing, Russian rounds could be heard landing a few hundred metres (yards) away. That was followed by the sounds of return fire from other Ukrainian positions in the area. Roman and soldiers under his command ran into trenches and headed for their Gvozdika. They removed the branches and camouflage netting used to conceal it from Russian drones, and then loaded a shell into the gun. They fired off a round. At the same time in Turkey, Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams had failed to meet, instead blaming each other for stalling. They did eventually meet on Friday in Istanbul. One of Roman's men, Serhii, said when asked if he saw a prospect of a ceasefire: "No hope." "Because there was a lot of conversation before. No results," said Serhii, a 36-year-old with the callsign Steward. "I just do my work. For our victory, to stop the war." Russian officials say they are committed to a peaceful end to the war, and accuse Kyiv of blocking that by making unrealistic demands and failing to acknowledge the need for compromises. (Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Alex Richardson)
The Star
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Under fire on front line, Ukrainian soldiers doubt talks will bring peace
Roman, 26-years-old, artillery division commander of the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with the call sign 'Cowboy', prepares to work next to a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer before it fires towards Russian troops, at a position near a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 15, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko KYIV (Reuters) - While Russian and Ukrainian officials arrived in Turkey for a fresh attempt at direct peace talks, Roman, a 26-year-old Ukrainian artillery commander, raced to man his artillery gun after Russian strikes landed near his position. The scene on Thursday evening served as a reminder that, on the front line, peace is a distant prospect, even as Russian and Ukrainian officials assembled in Turkey for the first talks since 2022. Speaking to Reuters before the exchange of artillery fire, Roman - who uses the call sign "Cowboy" - said he had little faith Russia would agree to a demand from Kyiv and Western states for a 30-day ceasefire. "At the moment peace is not possible," Roman said. "We are certain that the enemy is not going to stop. Our task, as soldiers, is to hold our positions, keep on fighting, not to give up." The group of soldiers commanded by Roman - who did not give his full name in line with Ukrainian military protocol - was dug into woodland in Ukraine's Donetsk region, which is largely controlled by Russian forces. Late on Thursday, they had received orders to direct fire on Russian positions from their 2S1 Gvozdika, a Soviet-designed self-propelled howitzer. Before they could begin firing, Russian rounds could be heard landing a few hundred metres (yards) away. That was followed by the sounds of return fire from other Ukrainian positions in the area. Roman and soldiers under his command ran into trenches and headed for their Gvozdika. They removed the branches and camouflage netting used to conceal it from Russian drones, and then loaded a shell into the gun. They fired off a round. At the same time in Turkey, Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams had failed to meet, instead blaming each other for stalling. They did eventually meet on Friday in Istanbul. One of Roman's men, Serhii, said when asked if he saw a prospect of a ceasefire: "No hope." "Because there was a lot of conversation before. No results," said Serhii, a 36-year-old with the callsign Steward. "I just do my work. For our victory, to stop the war." Russian officials say they are committed to a peaceful end to the war, and accuse Kyiv of blocking that by making unrealistic demands and failing to acknowledge the need for compromises. (Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Under fire on front line, Ukrainian soldiers doubt talks will bring peace
Roman, 26-years-old, artillery division commander of the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with the call sign 'Cowboy', prepares to work next to a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer before it fires towards Russian troops, at a position near a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 15, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko KYIV - While Russian and Ukrainian officials arrived in Turkey for a fresh attempt at direct peace talks, Roman, a 26-year-old Ukrainian artillery commander, raced to man his artillery gun after Russian strikes landed near his position. The scene on Thursday evening served as a reminder that, on the front line, peace is a distant prospect, even as Russian and Ukrainian officials assembled in Turkey for the first talks since 2022. Speaking to Reuters before the exchange of artillery fire, Roman - who uses the call sign "Cowboy" - said he had little faith Russia would agree to a demand from Kyiv and Western states for a 30-day ceasefire. "At the moment peace is not possible," Roman said. "We are certain that the enemy is not going to stop. Our task, as soldiers, is to hold our positions, keep on fighting, not to give up." The group of soldiers commanded by Roman - who did not give his full name in line with Ukrainian military protocol - was dug into woodland in Ukraine's Donetsk region, which is largely controlled by Russian forces. Late on Thursday, they had received orders to direct fire on Russian positions from their 2S1 Gvozdika, a Soviet-designed self-propelled howitzer. Before they could begin firing, Russian rounds could be heard landing a few hundred metres (yards) away. That was followed by the sounds of return fire from other Ukrainian positions in the area. Roman and soldiers under his command ran into trenches and headed for their Gvozdika. They removed the branches and camouflage netting used to conceal it from Russian drones, and then loaded a shell into the gun. They fired off a round. At the same time in Turkey, Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams had failed to meet, instead blaming each other for stalling. They did eventually meet on Friday in Istanbul. One of Roman's men, Serhii, said when asked if he saw a prospect of a ceasefire: "No hope." "Because there was a lot of conversation before. No results," said Serhii, a 36-year-old with the callsign Steward. "I just do my work. For our victory, to stop the war." Russian officials say they are committed to a peaceful end to the war, and accuse Kyiv of blocking that by making unrealistic demands and failing to acknowledge the need for compromises. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
