Latest news with #128thSeparateMountainAssaultTranscarpathianBrigade
Straits Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Some Ukrainian soldiers say Russians must withdraw before any peace talks
Yurii, 33-years-old, a wounded Ukrainian service member of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, sits at a medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine May 10, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko Some Ukrainian soldiers say Russians must withdraw before any peace talks ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine - After fending off attacks during a three-day weekend ceasefire declared by Russia, some Ukrainian soldiers fighting near the front line had advice for their president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy: don't talk to Moscow until Russian troops withdraw. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine just over an hour after his ceasefire ended, something Zelenskiy said was possible, but only after Moscow agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday. Preparing drones to observe Russian troop movements as the ceasefire was ending, the commander of a drone unit in Ukraine's national guard, using the call sign Chepa, told Reuters any talks could only start with a full Russian withdrawal to Ukraine's borders when the country won independence in 1991. "As a soldier and a citizen of Ukraine I believe that before we sit down at the negotiation table we should go back to the borders of 1991," Chepa said in a bunker near the front line. "That's it. Full withdrawal of all troops from the territory of Ukraine. Then when we can talk. Whatever he (Putin) is thinking of, take certain regions or divide territories, nobody has given him the right to do it." Chepa's views were echoed by others in the unit. Russia occupies nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory and has repeatedly said Kyiv must recognise the "reality on the ground". Zelenskiy has acknowledged that at least some of Ukraine's occupied territory will have to be retaken through diplomacy. But Kyiv cannot legally recognise Russian control over any Ukrainian territory because of the constitution. Zelenskiy has said any discussion about territory can only take place after a ceasefire is in place. Putin used a late night press conference to make his proposal for talks, which he said, should be based on a draft deal negotiated in 2022, under which Ukraine would agree to permanent neutrality. That would contradict Ukraine's constitution, amended in 2019 to include the goal of "fully-fledged membership" of NATO. Zelenskiy received a show of support from European powers on Saturday, when the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland backed an unconditional ceasefire beginning on Monday. Chepa said he also wanted negotiations but feared they would never come about. "Yes, we do need negotiations. But he (Putin) is scared of talks," Chepa said, adding his brigade had seen no evidence of a ceasefire over the weekend. "We have not seen any ceasefire, there were continuous attacks by howitzers, rocket launchers, they used it all. We have not experienced any ceasefire." The Russian movements continued into Sunday, after the Russian-declared ceasefire ran out at midnight (2100 GMT), when the reconnaissance drones flew over a nearby village. "There is a lot of movement there of military as well as civilian vehicles," Chepa said. "Interesting that so close to the contact line there is a civilian car. Not damaged, mind you. They must be making good use of it." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Some Ukrainian soldiers say Russians must withdraw before any peace talks
Yurii, 33-years-old, a wounded Ukrainian service member of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, sits at a medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine May 10, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine (Reuters) - After fending off attacks during a three-day weekend ceasefire declared by Russia, some Ukrainian soldiers fighting near the front line had advice for their president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy: don't talk to Moscow until Russian troops withdraw. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine just over an hour after his ceasefire ended, something Zelenskiy said was possible, but only after Moscow agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday. Preparing drones to observe Russian troop movements as the ceasefire was ending, the commander of a drone unit in Ukraine's national guard, using the call sign Chepa, told Reuters any talks could only start with a full Russian withdrawal to Ukraine's borders when the country won independence in 1991. "As a soldier and a citizen of Ukraine I believe that before we sit down at the negotiation table we should go back to the borders of 1991," Chepa said in a bunker near the front line. "That's it. Full withdrawal of all troops from the territory of Ukraine. Then when we can talk. Whatever he (Putin) is thinking of, take certain regions or divide territories, nobody has given him the right to do it." Chepa's views were echoed by others in the unit. Russia occupies nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory and has repeatedly said Kyiv must recognise the "reality on the ground". Zelenskiy has acknowledged that at least some of Ukraine's occupied territory will have to be retaken through diplomacy. But Kyiv cannot legally recognise Russian control over any Ukrainian territory because of the constitution. Zelenskiy has said any discussion about territory can only take place after a ceasefire is in place. Putin used a late night press conference to make his proposal for talks, which he said, should be based on a draft deal negotiated in 2022, under which Ukraine would agree to permanent neutrality. That would contradict Ukraine's constitution, amended in 2019 to include the goal of "fully-fledged membership" of NATO. Zelenskiy received a show of support from European powers on Saturday, when the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland backed an unconditional ceasefire beginning on Monday. Chepa said he also wanted negotiations but feared they would never come about. "Yes, we do need negotiations. But he (Putin) is scared of talks," Chepa said, adding his brigade had seen no evidence of a ceasefire over the weekend. "We have not seen any ceasefire, there were continuous attacks by howitzers, rocket launchers, they used it all. We have not experienced any ceasefire." The Russian movements continued into Sunday, after the Russian-declared ceasefire ran out at midnight (2100 GMT), when the reconnaissance drones flew over a nearby village. "There is a lot of movement there of military as well as civilian vehicles," Chepa said. "Interesting that so close to the contact line there is a civilian car. Not damaged, mind you. They must be making good use of it." (Writing by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Wounded Ukrainian soldiers ask: What ceasefire?
Artur, a wounded Ukrainian serviceman of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, looks on at a medical stabilisation point after treatment, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko A medic helps Kyrylo, 22-years-old, a wounded Ukrainian serviceman of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, at a medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine May 10, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko Yurii, 33-years-old, a wounded Ukrainian service member of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, sits at a medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine May 10, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine - Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a three-day pause in fighting against Ukraine, but for bloodied Ukrainian soldiers limping into a field hospital, their wounds testified that the ceasefire was not being respected. One soldier, who gave his name as Stanislav, sat in the field hospital on Friday night cradling his left arm. It was wrapped in gauze bandage, and blood was soaking through. 'There hasn't been any ceasefire," said Stanislav, who did not give his full name in line with Ukrainian military protocol. "Shelling has continued just as before, drones are flying just like before, the same with explosives being dropped. Nothing has changed at all." "Look, we were driving today, there were mortars all the way. Advance parties moved forward, they tried to attack." Putin announced the three-day ceasefire to coincide with a May 9 military parade on Moscow's Red Square where he hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders in commemoration of the end of World War Two. The ceasefire is due to end at midnight (2100 GMT) on Saturday. Ukraine did not sign up for the ceasefire, calling it a ruse by Putin. Each side has accused the other of carrying on fighting regardless, though there has been a pause in long-range attacks on each other's capitals. Reuters was given access to the field hospital, in the Zaporizhzhia region of southern Ukraine that is partially controlled by Russian forces, on condition the news agency did not disclose the exact location. Medics examined soldiers as they came in and replaced the dressings that had been hurriedly put on their wounds out in the field. The more serious cases were placed on a gurney while medics bandaged them, checked their vital signs, and cleaned dried blood and mud off their skin. One of the medics, who gave his name as Oleh, said it was a regular night's work, even with the Russian-declared ceasefire. 'The same as usual, we got used to it. They will never change," he said of the Russian forces. "Just the opposite, we know that if they declare some sort of ceasefire it will be exactly the opposite. No question about that. They keep shooting." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Wounded Ukrainian soldiers ask: What ceasefire?
Yurii, 33-years-old, a wounded Ukrainian service member of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, sits at a medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine May 10, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a three-day pause in fighting against Ukraine, but for bloodied Ukrainian soldiers limping into a field hospital, their wounds testified that the ceasefire was not being respected. One soldier, who gave his name as Stanislav, sat in the field hospital on Friday night cradling his left arm. It was wrapped in gauze bandage, and blood was soaking through. 'There hasn't been any ceasefire," said Stanislav, who did not give his full name in line with Ukrainian military protocol. "Shelling has continued just as before, drones are flying just like before, the same with explosives being dropped. Nothing has changed at all." "Look, we were driving today, there were mortars all the way. Advance parties moved forward, they tried to attack." Putin announced the three-day ceasefire to coincide with a May 9 military parade on Moscow's Red Square where he hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders in commemoration of the end of World War Two. The ceasefire is due to end at midnight (2100 GMT) on Saturday. Ukraine did not sign up for the ceasefire, calling it a ruse by Putin. Each side has accused the other of carrying on fighting regardless, though there has been a pause in long-range attacks on each other's capitals. Reuters was given access to the field hospital, in the Zaporizhzhia region of southern Ukraine that is partially controlled by Russian forces, on condition the news agency did not disclose the exact location. Medics examined soldiers as they came in and replaced the dressings that had been hurriedly put on their wounds out in the field. The more serious cases were placed on a gurney while medics bandaged them, checked their vital signs, and cleaned dried blood and mud off their skin. One of the medics, who gave his name as Oleh, said it was a regular night's work, even with the Russian-declared ceasefire. 'The same as usual, we got used to it. They will never change," he said of the Russian forces. "Just the opposite, we know that if they declare some sort of ceasefire it will be exactly the opposite. No question about that. They keep shooting." (Writing by Christian Lowe, Editing by Louise Heavens)
