Ukraine’s ongoing struggle for peace and stability has been thrown into sharp relief yet again, highlighting the resilience of pro-Russian separatists in the region. Ukrainian troops have been fighting to take back a strategic town from pro-Russian militants since early this month, but have faced fierce resistance.
The town of Novoazovsk in Ukraine’s Donbas region has been under the control of separatists since 2014. Ukrainian troops have attempted to push southward in an effort to move the strategic town back under the Ukrainian state’s control. Despite the fact that the Ukrainian army has managed to make some significant gains and take hold in the town, it has faced staunch opposition from the pro-Russian militants, who have even employed engineering tactics to make it difficult for the troops to progress and take more ground.
The militants use mines to limit the progress of the Ukrainian troops, and they also have conducted surprise attacks in order to counter any advances made by Ukrainian forces. To make matters worse, due to a lack of resources in the region, the Ukrainian military have had to battle without armoured vehicles.
In light of the militants’ tactics, the success of the Ukrainian troops has relied heavily on the bravery and tenacity of their elite soldiers, many of whom have risked their lives in their effort to push back and take the town back from the pro-Russian forces. The Ukrainian army has called on the United Nations for additional assistance in order to defeat the pro-Russian militants, claiming that the resources and reinforcements necessary to oust the enemy are not available.
Although the Ukrainian troops have shown signs of success, the pro-Russian forces have not yet been defeated, making the fight to reclaim Novoazovsk a tedious and difficult battle. The situation emphasizes the severity of the conflict and its potential to become a global security risk. It also highlights the strength and determination of the Ukrainian soldiers as they continue to fight the pro-Russian forces for the control of this strategic town.
