"The Russians hit the dugout where he was sheltering with kamikaze drones and mortars. After every strike, Lietunov and another Ukrainian soldier, Sasha, repaired the damage, extinguishing fires with bottles of urine and shoving clay-filled sacks back into position."
"Lietunov realised that a second drone would soon finish off both of them. He tried to dig Sasha out but realised he was dead and scrambled to the surface."
"Over the next two weeks a surreal and astonishing story of wartime survival took place underground, as the two soldiers got to know each other."
Vadym Lietunov faced relentless bombing on the frontline, enduring attacks from kamikaze drones and mortars. After a devastating explosion killed his comrade Sasha, Lietunov escaped and encountered a Russian soldier. Despite the ongoing conflict, they shared a surreal experience underground, breaking the norm of hostility between opposing forces. Their interactions revealed the human side of war, contrasting the violence with moments of connection amidst chaos. The story underscores the complexities of warfare and the unexpected bonds that can form even in dire circumstances.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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