The 23rd mechanized brigade entered Chasiv Yar in June 2024. When asked if he had been coming out of the basement in the city to civilization since then, Serhiy, the platoon commander, replied that he had not. He's been there for a month and a half. In this basement, the entire life of the unit takes place: logistics are planned here, the situation at the positions is monitored, they eat, sleep, go to the toilet here (it is too dangerous to go outside).
On this August evening, logistician Vitaliy is going to deliver packages to the positions, as he does every night. He fills his backpack with cigarettes, water, and batteries for walkietalkies. 3.5 km one way, the same back. Under fire from artillery and FPV.
But this is not the most difficult thing for him. The most difficult thing is when he does not go alone, but takes other soldiers to the positions.
"It's scary when you lead people, because you worry about them so that no one gets lost, because no one knows the way.
If someone gets lost, t is not clear where he will go – to ours or to the Russians. I lost a friend like that. He was studying to be a logistician, I showed the way, a mine flew by – three of us were thrown into a trench, and he ran somewhere. As if, they say, they found it, but he was KIA," Vitaly says.
In a few hours, he receives a new task: not only to distribute provisions, but also to get five new people to the position. The mission is dangerous. The more people there are, the more visible the target for drones. A group of six people is already too much.
By the time of the exit – just before dawn – Vitaliy and his commanders are visibly nervous and carefully make a plan.