What Ukrainian forces have long described in the city of Bakhmut is also playing out to the north in Luhansk region - more Russian troops, weapons and aggressive tactics that Moscow hopes will produce a badly needed breakthrough
"Since the beginning of February, they have conducted something like 40 to 50 attempted assaults," the 45-year-old told Reuters in between relaying messages over his radio.
At the bottom of the attempted encirclement appears to be Soledar, meaning an area far larger than Bakhmut would be vulnerable. This could allow Russia to accelerate west after it has been virtually stuck for months. "The enemy would need a lot of forces to take this line and therefore I think it is unlikely, given the losses the Russian troops are already suffering," he added.
Signs of the fighting, and subsequent artillery duels, are everywhere. Homes and shops have been smashed, burned out military vehicles litter the surrounding woods and cannons boom loudly as they fire at Russians positions to the northeast.Russia has made only incremental gains around Bakhmut, which it has been trying to capture for eight months, and further north.
"At night they always attack on foot and we sit, looking through our thermal goggles, and shooting them." "They are preparing a lot of reserve battalions and they will be involved in the counter-offensive," said Tuman. "This is spring and the weather is not that favourable ... so I believe in April it's coming."Tuman's adult life has been overshadowed by conflict. He said he took part in both wars in the 1990s between Russian troops and separatists after the breakup of the Soviet Union.
In another room of his base, two men sat behind laptops and monitored live footage being sent from drones overlooking Russian positions. They use this to identify enemy threats and target them with artillery.
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