Amid talk of Russia reinvading from the north, volunteer units of the remote Sumy region represent the first line of defence
On New Year’s Eve in a patch of forest along the north-east border with Russia, a unit of Ukrainian territorial defence forces stood guard in their trenches.
Those off duty sat underground, preparing a new year’s feast in a brightly lit, wood cabin-esque kitchen, one of several they built after being stationed along the north-east border four months ago. Off the zigzagging, metres-deep muddy corridors of the trenches, there were also several sleeping quarters and even a sauna.
The Sumy territorial defence units have been credited by western military experts and commended several times by Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, for thwarting Russian attempts to establish supply corridors from Russia through Sumy to eastern Kyiv – their actions thereby contributed to saving the central command in the capital.
Ukraine’s northern frontline has been static since the Russians were pushed out in the spring. The Russians periodically shell the border areas “just to scare” Ukrainian forces rather than as part of a build-up to a fresh offensive, say the men. Serhiy, who defended Sumy city until the regular army arrived in April, said now there were mines, defence lines, troops and equipment in the region, whereas last February there had been almost nothing, so it would be illogical for the Russians to try again. “[But] they don’t have to follow logic as we know,” said Serhiy.Photograph: Anastasia Vlasova/The Guardian