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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Julia Kochetova; words by Dan Sabbagh

Back to the front: Ukrainian troops return to the battlefield – photo essay

Solodenkyi is wearing camouflage combat uniform with blue tape wrapped around his helmet. There are dark circles under his eyes and mud ia smeared on his face and hands. He is looking into the camera with a serious expression
Solodenkyi, an infantry soldier with Da Vinci Wolves battalion. He has just spent 38 days in position on the frontline. Photograph: Julia Kochetova/The Guardian

It is just before dawn, the December temperature a couple of degrees above freezing; time for troop rotations to start across Ukraine’s 750 mile front.

A crew of four from Da Vinci Wolves battalion are loading up into an M113 armoured personnel carrier at a secret location ready to be driven out to a safe point. From there they will walk to their position and remain on the front for 10 or 12 days.

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