'WWIII entirely possible if world fails to realise need to unite against Russia'

RESIDENTS and officials in Ukraine’s most dangerous province remain concerned about whether Russia will honour its word when it comes to stopping the brutal violence.

- Zak Garner-Purkis

Despite world leaders pushing hard for a ceasefire, in the Kharkiv region, where battles rage between the two sides, suspicions remain that any break in hostilities from Vladimir Putin’s forces will be used strategically.

Lt Col Roman Myrnyi, a deputy battalion commander of the Khartia Brigade, said every pause announced by the Russians had not been honoured on the front lines.

He told the Daily Express: “The Russians’ words are one thing and their actions another.

“The recent three-day ceasefire (announced to coincide with a big parade in Moscow for the Second World War) was always a strategic move designed to generate publicity.

“On the ground, we didn’t feel it. Every day, we were fighting off drone attacks, working to save lives and protecting our supplies.

“This was not just my experience, I have friends in other areas and they also said Russian attacks continued.”

Speaking from his secret command post, where he oversees efforts to force back Moscow’s troops, Lt Col Myrnyi was not planning on making any concessions.

He added: “I support president Zelensky in every way. We will be there until the very end because victory is not decided by what someone says, it takes place on the battlefield.

“We will, as a military, stand and defend our country and won't give up. We will keep taking back Ukrainian territories with minimal losses.

“Back in 2022, we were left all alone, with a little help from America providing some ammunition, yet we stopped the offensive with our own forces. After we showed our effectiveness, the Europeans and Americans began to help more.”

Konstantin Batotskiy, a Ukrainian political consultant and former top-level adviser, agreed and highlighted more than a decade’s worth of Russian promise-breaking in Ukraine. Ceasefires, he said, had a long history of failing to materialise into anything substantial.