In the fourth year of Russian aggression against Ukraine, attacks on critical infrastructure and civilian buildings continue. In addition, this year's winter brought with it bitter frosts. How are Ukrainians coping with another year of war? Onet journalist Marcin Wywał, who has just returned from a war-torn country, talks about it in the “Fronty Warny” podcast. His report from the Ukrainian capital and from the front line does not fill us with optimism, but it also gives us hope.
The journalist emphasizes that the Ukrainian army does not intend to surrender. It also reacts wisely to the changing battlefield. Unfortunately, as his conversations with Ukrainian commanders show, Polish officers do not visit the front to observe military operations, learn and gain experience.
Marcin Wyrwal visited Donbas, Kharkov and Kiev just before the next anniversary of Russia's attack on Ukraine. From this trip he brings back an image of cities that, on the one hand, are trying to maintain normality, and on the other hand, are brutally affected by Russian attacks on infrastructure. As he says, the situation in Kiev is currently determined by the fight for heat and electricity. The city became a hostage to energy supply schedules.
— Every resident of Kiev has an application on their phone in which they can see when they will have electricity and when there will be interruptions in its supply. This determines people's activity, he says, adding that he witnessed lights suddenly appearing in many windows in the middle of the night. The reason is prosaic: – If the electricity supply window falls between, for example, two and four in the morning, residents wake up at that time to put in the laundry, clean or charge power banks and phones.
Below you will read the rest of the text and see the entire program in video version:
As he points out, the situation is particularly difficult in the left-bank part of Kiev, where entire housing estates are without heating and water for a long time. Wywal describes the tragedy of the inhabitants of high-rise buildings, especially the elderly and sick.
– People who, for example, live on the eleventh floor of a skyscraper where elevators are currently out of service, have to plan their day so that they can do all their business in one go, and still have to carry their purchases up the stairs for a long time – he says. — Interestingly, cutting off people on the left bank of Kiev from electricity, heating and water did not cause people to leave the city or even to other districts. Even the rent prices in buildings have not decreased.
The mood of Ukrainians: there is a problem of the so-called evaders
Despite the extreme conditions, the Onet journalist notes that there is no renewed wave of refugees towards the Polish border. The winter, although harsh, did not break the spirit of the residents who stayed in Kiev, among others. due to easier access to work. However, the mood is different. Apart from heroism, there is the problem of the so-called evaders – people avoiding military service.
Why do Ukrainian citizens not want to fight? Wywal warns against easily judging these people, quoting the Dominican prior from Kiev, who briefly says about those escaping the draft: “I understand them… Because they are afraid.”
At the same time, he draws attention to the unfair criticism of Ukrainians staying in Poland, who are often soldiers on short leave from the front. — The entire nation lives in tension, balancing between faith in victory and fear of ubiquitous mobilization, he adds.
You can watch the entire program below:
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Situation on the front: landscape from “Mad Max”
The journey from Kiev to Donbas is an entry into another world, which Wyrł compares to the aesthetics of the movie “Mad Max”. Modern war forced Ukrainians to build defense systems that had never been seen before. All vehicles, from military humvees and armored personnel carriers to civilian excavators, are encased in powerful metal anti-drone structures or equipped with electronic jamming systems.
— In the current war conditions, if we have a frontline zone (…), we are condemned to nets hanging over the roads for many kilometers – emphasizes Wyrł. These structures are intended to protect against drone strikes, which instead of hitting the roof of the vehicle, explode several meters above it, which significantly increases the crew's chances of survival.
Another threat on the front, the journalist reports, are the so-called żduny – drones that land near roads or trenches, are then turned off and wait until they detect seismic vibrations or a specific target, before suddenly “coming to life” and attacking.
The situation at the front, according to Wyrwal's account, is described as dramatic. In his opinion, the Russians are moving forward, although slowly, consistently, forcing the Ukrainians to constantly build new lines of fortifications. However, recently there has been a breakthrough.
War for Starlinks: a blow to the Russian command
One of the key topics of the conversation is the issue of Starlink satellite communication systems. For a long time, the Russians illegally acquired and used this satellite communication system, which allowed them to effectively manage the battlefield. As Wyrwal explains, the terminals were smuggled despite the embargo, and according to his conversations with Ukrainian soldiers, there were thousands of such devices on the Russian side.
The situation changed thanks to effective pressure from Ukrainians on Elon Musk, who introduced new security measures cutting off Russians from the network. This caused chaos in the Russian command and communications system. The Russians tried to save the situation using various methods: – They started looking for the families of Ukrainian prisoners of war, whom they blackmailed by saying that if they did not register Starlink and provide them with access codes, their loved ones would be harmed. The Ukrainian services even send text messages warning that sharing passwords with Russians will be prosecuted as a crime.
However, the blockade of these devices had a direct impact on the operational situation at the front. — When Musk blocked Starlink, the Ukrainians launched a counteroffensive in Zaporizhia, Wyrwal notes. Although the operation is subject to a strict information embargo, the journalist confirms that for the first time in a long time “Russian lines have cracked.”
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
