BBC Reports from Recaptured Territory in Eastern Ukraine

As Ukrainian forces recaptured some territories in a counter-offensive, the BBC was one of the first media outlets to gain access to the recaptured territory and sought it out on its own.

Of the four villages in eastern Donetsk that Ukraine has recaptured, Neskukhne is where the fiercest fighting took place. Six Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the process.

The local name ‘Neskuhne’ means ‘not boring’ in Ukrainian. But the name is certainly ironic, given that the region was occupied weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

Neskukhne is the northernmost point in the Russian-occupied area and on the front line protruding towards Ukraine.

The BBC reporters, along with escort Anatoly, rode a military truck to Neskuhne along damaged roads.

However, I could feel that this recapture was different from the recapture witnessed by reporters last year.

First of all, there were no civilians to be found. The only traces of human life were a pharmacy and grocery store destroyed by bombing.

There was also no complex network of trenches. A makeshift wooden bridge over the river was all we needed to get to this long-held Russian occupation.

Also, there was no building that did not have small bullet holes. A lot of close combat took place here.

Anatoly did not want to stay outside for long.

Ukrainian forces hid in dense tree trunks or abandoned gardens and fired mortars periodically. According to Anatoly, there were still three Russian positions beyond the ridge.

Suddenly, plumes of smoke rose from three places. It was a sign that we had to keep moving. The Russian military responded with the ‘Grad’ missile.

Compared to claims made by Ukrainian authorities this week that the region was liberated with victory, the actual situation here has been far more fluid.

For example, until just last night, the Russians launched a counterattack. Ukrainian officials have also acknowledged this.

The results of Ukraine’s counteroffensive operation, which is still in its infancy, are not as spectacular as one might think.

Just looking at the situation in Neskuhne, the entire region will be immediately completely recaptured and freedom will not be gained immediately.