00:00 We are at the heart of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, in the middle of a road overlooking occupied
00:05 Donetsk city.
00:07 The Ukrainian army strikes nearby Russian positions.
00:17 Each strike is counted.
00:19 Soldiers have to be fast and efficient, and they must take cover quickly.
00:23 The Grad rocket launcher is not a precision weapon.
00:27 It dates from the Soviet era.
00:29 The Ukrainian army possesses over 100 such systems, five times less than Russia.
00:35 The Grad system was created to neutralize the enemy on an area system.
00:39 That means that we don't hit single targets, but an entire zone.
00:43 This machine alone can cover a 6 hectare surface.
00:47 It's loaded with 40 fragmentation rocket-propelled artillery shells.
00:52 It's a long-range system, striking at a distance of up to 20 kilometers.
01:03 To make a difference, Kiev counts on Western equipment for precision strikes.
01:10 Our partners are giving us help at the moment, on top of the systems we currently use.
01:15 They're helping us to defeat the Russians.
01:16 We got more precise and efficient equipment, and we're thankful for it."
01:24 We move to the trenches, where the 59th Brigade uses the US-provided howitzer M27, a light
01:31 cannon particularly appreciated because it doesn't require a lot of manpower, while allowing
01:36 precision strikes thanks to GPS-guided munition.
01:45 Russian soldiers know they're outnumbered, and they've been here for months.
01:51 "We've been here for quite a long time.
01:56 We arrived some time before the New Year.
02:00 We carry out combat tasks, you might say constantly."
02:09 Over the past few weeks, fighting has intensified in Donetsk region, but these soldiers know
02:15 that their strike might be essential to break through Russian defences and contribute to
02:20 a successful Ukrainian counter-offensive.
02:22 [BLANK_AUDIO]
