Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russian troops on the frontline in Donetsk region said on Tuesday (June 14) they were optimistic about winning the war.

Ukrainian military hardware drove through the town of NiuYork, which lies some 50 kilometres to the north from the separatists stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Donetsk region, where heavy fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops is ongoing.

Reuters witnesses said the town was under shelling on Tuesday.

Speaking from the trenches in NiuYork, 28yearold Ukrainian soldier nicknamed "Pashtet" said he doesn't understand Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions with Ukraine.

"He has his own big and rich country, just put things in order and you can live peacefully. There's a mess in his country and he goes `let me invade Ukraine and make a mess there`. This is what I think. We will prevail anyway. The victory will be ours," he said.

Serviceman Mykola, aged 42, thinks the war "will not lead to anything good."

One of Putin's stated objectives is forcing Kyiv to cede the full territory of two provinces, Luhansk and Donetsk, collectively known as the Donbas.

Bigger battles could lie ahead for the wider Ukrainianheld pocket of the Donbas, nearly all on the opposite bank of the river which Russian forces have found difficult to cross.




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