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In the snow-covered forests and swamps of Ukraine’s 621-mile border with Belarus, a regional defense unit is preparing for the worst.
The 100th Brigade consisted mostly of volunteers – some teachers, plumbers and masons – who were recruited to fortify the outskirts of the Volynska region and prepare against another Russian invasion from the north.
The 124 miles of land protected by the 100th Brigade are riddled with anti-tank mines and marked by observation posts.
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“This is the height,” says Captain Vasyl Sidorchuk, deputy unit commander, from the top of the newly built, snow-covered hill fort.
“Everything is well noted from here: crossroads. You can work with grenade launchers, machine guns – you can use everything.”
Not far from Captain Sidorchuk’s Hill is a village where people of northern Ukraine have lived for generations.
They were shaken by reports of an impending invasion from the straddling borders between their homes. Some of them have family members who live just 12 miles away on the other side.
“We all lived together,” says resident Oksana Trufanova. “Half of our people lived in Belarus. I used to live and work there. I have relatives there and we visited them often.”
“Some believe us, some don’t.”
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Across the road from Oksana live Nadya Andreeva and her daughter Svetlana. Nadia is 75 years old and has lived in the border village all her life.
“I will not leave and I do not want to leave and run from my land. Where to? I am 75 years old and these monsters want to force us to leave our land,” she says.
“Let them die themselves, or be destroyed by God.”
Her daughter has deep fears after seeing the atrocities committed in other parts of Ukraine.
“After Butcha – after what those monsters did there, I thought several times that it would be better if a missile hit me here than to experience what they do to the Ukrainian people,” says Svetlana.
Photo: Nadia Andreeva and her daughter Svetlana
A short distance from the road that crosses their village is a lake that stretches across the border. On the other hand, a Ukrainian outpost. On the other hand, a green Belarusian watchtower.
Last month, Russian President Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko conducted a massive mass training exercise after announcing a joint regional military unit in October.
Russia invaded Ukraine from the Belarusian border back in February, and top Ukrainian defense officials have been sounding the alarm about another incursion from the north.
This time the Ukrainians insist they are well prepared.
Explosions could be heard from Captain Sidorchuk’s hill castle.
He says, “Don’t worry.” “This is our youth.”
The explosions come from somewhere a few kilometers down the road. They are part of a simulated exercise that the 100th Brigade is doing daily in preparation for a potential new front on their doorstep.
A tank parked in a valley facing the bottom of a hill. Behind him, in the shape of a white pickup truck, is a 50-caliber anti-aircraft gun guarded by two soldiers in winter camouflage. In front of the tank, soldiers with Kalashnikov rifles weave through the fireworks.
“We are here with enough personnel and ammunition,” says Captain Sidorchuk.
We are ready to meet them.”
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