A kangaroo pet next to the Ukrainian flag on the carrier. Credit: Kate Geraghty
Armored vehicles, painted olive green, are equipped like a truck, but move agilely on all terrain, off-road and off-road, transporting troops to and from the front line.
In an hour last week, we saw three of them running towards frontline positions near Sievierodonetsk, the focus of Russia’s attack on the east. In what is shaping up to be a long and brutal war, Russia is making inch-by-inch advances in the Donbas region. It has now occupied most of the city’s ruined factory and Ukrainian soldiers are trapped in the industrial area of what was once a major population center.
From their positions on the busy streets, the Russians stormed the sister city of Lyshychansk, on the other side of the Siverskyi Donets River, with artillery shells and missiles.
Ukrainian and American defense officials estimate that between 100 and 200 Ukrainian soldiers die every day across the country, while thousands more are wounded and captured.
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The war has also cost Moscow a lot, with NATO last month estimating the number of Russian military dead at 15,000 or more.
To date, Australia has sent 20 Bushmasters and six lightly towed howitzers to Ukraine.
Soldiers here say they want more Bushmasters, as well as long-range shells, tanks and missiles.
Vitaly says the Bushmaster is “much better” than Ukrainian-era BTR vehicles.
“First of all, it’s very comfortable. It has air conditioning, it’s like a house on wheels. I would have lived inside. I stay there all the time, “says Vitaly.
From the windshield of the Bushmaster hangs a Montanka doll, an amul of luck. Credit: Kate Geraghty
Ukraine now has only 19 Bushmasters, after one was killed by the Russians in an attack near the village of Trypillia. Vitaly, who was close to the attack when it happened, says everyone survived.
“I was there, I saw Bushmaster come in for the first time, bring the guys in, and then come in for the second time. And then he was hit,” Vitaly says.
The team commander, nicknamed Technik, says the attack proved the quality of the Australian vehicle because it protected all the men inside.
“It’s armored inside and that’s a big advantage for this vehicle because it protects the safety and health of the soldiers inside,” he says. “If we had more vehicles like this, we would save more lives, and the lives of our soldiers are the most important thing.”
Bushmasters are armored inside and out to withstand attacks. Credit: Kate Geraghty
Technik says his team only took two to three days to “dominate the Bushmaster.”
He says he is waiting for Australia to send more.
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“We need the Bushmasters for those units that are responsible for internal security,” he says.
Technik says Ukraine needs many more vehicles and weapons from countries like Australia to replenish its capabilities.
“We need artillery and ammunition for artillery. We need shells, we need more tanks and armored vehicles, a lot of armored vehicles.”
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