Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is ‘personal’ for soldiers protecting their families in the Donetsk region – ABC News

Ukrainian troops on the frontline of Russia's war don't pretend to know what's going through the minds of "the enemy", but if theyhad to guess, they thinkthe invaders'hearts aren't in it.

"The Russians don't seem to care," one of them told the ABC.

Dimas, a Ukraine soldier taking the ABC to the frontline near Shevchenko,in the Donetsk region, says the Russians might have "thought they'd be welcomed here".

"Butnobody wants them," he adds.

The Ukrainiansoldiers on the frontline, however, have everything to fight for.

The nearby city of Zaporizhzhia is preparing for thatfrontline to soon reach its doorstop.

Residents are determinedto keep the cityunder Ukrainian control and out of Russia's hands.

One soldier, Doc, said the battle was "personal" for him. His wife and family live in the area.

"I've got a family and a home to protect," he said.

Soldiers are also fighting to protect loved ones in other areas of south-east Ukraine.

After Russian troops started their encirclement of Mariupol in early March, many residents were left with few means to escape.

Vorchun, who joined the army just days before Russia invaded Ukraine, said his family was still living near the city.

"They wanted to know who would be prepared to protect the motherland, so I volunteered," he said,as the sounds of Russian artillery grew louder in the distance.

"They are trying to force us out of here. We won't let them"

Since withdrawing from areas surrounding Kyiv, Russian forces have redoubled their efforts to encircle the Donbas region and secure a land corridor to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

"They've rotated all their troops here, so it's become quite hot," Dimas said.

InShevchenko, a fierce battle is raging. On the other side of the village'slush green fields, large clouds of smokegather abovethe horizon, caused by heavy shelling.

Snaking through the fields are defensive trenches dug by the Ukrainians, in case they get pushed back.

What their Russian opponents may lack in motivation, they're making up for in firepower, Dimas said.

"The Ukrainian army might fire five or 10 shells, and Russia will fire 50 to 100 in return," he said.

"They have much more weaponry, artillery, tanks, soldiers on foot.

"But we protect our military assets. The Russians don't protect theirs and they're suffering heavy losses."

While the extent of Russia's losses remains unclear, the UK's Defence Ministry estimates up to one quarter of Vladimir Putin's battle groups sent to Ukraine have been rendered "combat ineffective".

Ukraine has taken territory back from Russia on the frontline near Shevchenko, but the gains and losses can change day by day, hour by hour.

The ABC saw Ukrainian artillery pulling back as the Russian shelling appeared to be getting closer.

A short time later, there was a deafening roar of a warplane flying low over the trees, firing flares to prevent a potential missile from locking on.

The Ukrainians said it belonged to them, but their opponents were clearly applying pressure.

"Everyday they want to capture a village, to contain and push them back,"Dimas said.

"But the front line is not constant."

Near the village of Shevchenko were numerous reminders of the Russian attack, which has since been repelled.

On the side of one roadwas a heap of twisted metal in the rough shape of a sedan. It appeared to have been crushed by a tank.

Nearby, an enormous crater had been carved into the ground. The military told us it was caused by a Russian Iskander missile.

Houses in the village were badly damaged by shelling and almost all the residents were gone.

An eeriesilence hung over the village, sometimes broken by the sound of guns in the distance.

Yet, 14-year-oldLeshasaid he wasn't afraid to live in the village, despite the near-constant explosions over the horizon.

"It's normal," he said.

"This is just how it is now."

Driving away from the frontline, the ABC met a resident from a neighbouring village, Olga, who was living with her family in a petrol station after fleeing her home.

She said the Russian assault became intolerable.

"We were waiting until the last minute to leave," she said.

"There was [so much] shelling. We couldn't handle it any longer."

Her one-year-old son, Yuriy, was frightened of the loud noises, she said.

"We're hoping we can wait here for a while before heading back home."

Nobody can say when that will be, or who will be in control.

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Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine is 'personal' for soldiers protecting their families in the Donetsk region - ABC News