Early within the morning they have been at their frontline positions, firing artillery at Russian forces. Hours later, sporting the identical uniforms and physique armor, they handed their ultimate check — an impediment course — to formally turn into Ukrainian marines.
Running by means of puddles and dirt, climbing beneath barbed wire and throughout simulated anti-tank ditches, they shouted, “Glory to Ukraine!” and “I love the marines!” Commanders barked orders and made them drop for push-ups.
When they have been accomplished, they piled into pickup vans and drove again to the entrance to rejoin Ukraine’s counteroffensive in southern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian navy, straining to replenish its ranks in the course of struggle, trains troopers and places them by means of qualifying exams even after they’re deployed to the entrance. The impediment course the marines went by means of on a heat summer season afternoon not too long ago was one instance: constructed only a few miles from the precise preventing, together with the identical sorts of trenches, bunkers and barbed wire used within the struggle towards Russia.
Candidates from the thirty sixth Marine Brigade have been rotated off the entrance line to run the course. To participate, candidates wanted a minimum of three months of fight expertise. Many within the first group of 40 artillerymen had seen greater than that.
“I am fighting for eight months already and all the time at the hardest parts of the front,” mentioned Lieutenant Arseniy, who, like others interviewed for this text, requested to be recognized solely by his first title and rank for safety causes. Though an artillery platoon commander, he had not but certified to put on the marine beret.
Muddy and exhausted, the lads however have been in good spirits, greeting each other earlier than working the course.
“A day has come when you can show that you are a true marine,” Maj. Nazariy Tofan, who was serving to to steer the coaching, advised the candidates. “You should remember this race for the rest of your life.”
As Ukraine fights alongside a whole bunch of miles of entrance line in a struggle that has lasted 17 months and exhibits no signal of easing, it should exchange fallen troopers and proceed coaching those that deployed with out finishing formal preparation. The thirty sixth Marine Brigade fought within the southern metropolis of Mariupol after Russia started its full-scale invasion final winter, holding out for weeks in a metal manufacturing facility that was pounded relentlessly by Moscow’s forces.
Many died or have been wounded, and greater than a thousand have been captured. The brigade’s former commander remains to be a prisoner of struggle in Russia.
Only about 200 marines escaped the encirclement. Survivors have been redeployed to battle within the southern Kherson area and new troops have been referred to as up. The thirty sixth is now across the typical dimension of a brigade, about 4,000 marines.
The impediment course was designed to simulate as intently as potential precise fight situations. Smoke grenades and fireworks went off. There was an ambush. Fellow marines fired blanks and yelled on the candidates.
Private Serhiy, 54, began to fall behind. A physician got here to test on him, discovered he had hypertension and administered an injection. He didn’t move the course.
“This war is not for me anymore,” he mentioned.
“It’s not for any of us in Ukraine,” the physician replied.
The different candidates ran on, struggling by means of mud and burning tires. When the course was over, 39 of the 40 had certified.
After different teams accomplished the problem, a ceremony was held the place the newly minted marines swore their oath — to be courageous and never go away brothers in arms behind — and obtained their berets. Then they returned to the entrance.
Source: www.nytimes.com