‘A lot of Russians have been killed. We like this’: on the frontline with a Ukrainian artillery unit

Capt Serhii with artillery soldiers of the 1st ‘Burevii’ brigade of the national guard. They are trying to stop a Russia advance on Kupiansk. Photograph: Julia Kochetova/The Guardian

From a line of trees the Ukrainian gun team prepared to fire. An artilleryman, Yurii, loaded a 152mm shell into an old Soviet-made howitzer. “We are ready!” Yurii said. He moved away from the barrel. “Fire!” the unit’s commander replied. There was an almighty boom.

White smoke filled the dugout, which was hidden beneath camouflage nets and cut pine branches. From the undergrowth, a chiffchaff resumed its spring warbling.