A Ukrainian soldier holds up a Russian rifle taken from inside Russia.
“A trophy,” he says, smiling.
One of his colleagues, also grinning, produces a military uniform patch that reads “Armed Forces of Russia” and a 10 rouble note.
“Russian money,” he says.
Image: Ukrainian ‘trophies’ – a Russian military uniform patch and a 10-rouble note
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The pair are part of a small team of soldiers on a grey pickup truck on the Ukrainian side of a border crossing point into the Kursk region of Russia.
A third serviceman, who gives his name as Vasil, says the unit has been fighting in Russia since the beginning of the cross-border attack from Sumy region, in northeastern Ukraine, eight days ago.
He says the Russian soldiers they had encountered were just “running away”.
Image: The Russians they had encountered were ‘running away’, they told us
Asked what his group is planning to do next, he says, speaking in English: “[I] think go further [in], yes.”
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As for whether he is scared, he says: “No.”
It is the same reply when asked whether he thinks Vladimir Putin’s forces will succeed in pushing the Ukrainian attackers out.
“No,” he says.
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Speaking with the measured, matter-of-fact tone of an experienced soldier – he has been fighting Russia’s invasion of his country since 2014 – Vasil says being part of the force invading Russia is “nothing special… I’m doing my job”.
Without giving much away, he says his unit was involved in monitoring and surveillance.
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But the soldier does share one thing he hopes will come of the incursion – showing Russian people the reality of war.
“Maybe they [the Russians] will understand [it’s] not very an interesting thing when sit at home and watch TV – war is war.”
Source : Sky News
