By Serhiy Chalyi
ZAPORIZZHIA REGION, Ukraine (Reuters) – Oleksandr Taran’s mobile artillery unit is not officially part of the Ukrainian army, but that has not stopped his men from destroying Russian targets at their own expense.
“We… get by thanks to the pension fund,” says the 68-year-old commander, whose call sign is “Grandfather,” with a laugh.
Taran’s all-volunteer unit, the Steppe Wolves, is made up of dozens of Ukrainian men, mostly over 60, considered too old to enlist but nonetheless willing to fight.
Moving behind the front line with truck-mounted rocket launchers, they receive orders from commanders on the ground and work with other troops, contributing to the war effort despite the lack of official support from the army.
The unit is financed by donations and supplied with defective cartridges which it repairs itself as well as weapons captured from the enemy. Both were delivered to them by front-line troops.
When Reuters recently visited their base in the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, they were preparing 122mm Grad rocket shells which were then fired by troops from another unit.
“The commanders who provide us with targets are happy,” said a 63-year-old fighter with the call sign “Zorro.”
“They give us more targets (and) help us with ammunition as much as they can.”
Taran, the commander, said his unit tried to officially join the Ukrainian armed forces to directly receive ammunition – and salaries – but was unsuccessful.
The unit also includes younger men who have been declared unfit for combat.
WILLING AND ABLE
More than two years after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s mobilization efforts are struggling amid waning enthusiasm.
Russian troops are advancing east and analysts say Ukraine’s manpower shortage needs to be addressed.
Some prominent Ukrainian and foreign supporters of the war effort have urged Zelenskiy to significantly reduce the mobilization age.
Earlier this month, Zelenskiy approved new measures allowing the military to call in more troops and toughening penalties for fraud. It also reduced the age of mobilization from 27 to 25 years.
Taran, who has been fighting since Moscow started the war in 2014, said coercion was unlikely to replace genuine enthusiasm in a potential recruit.
“Beat him with a stick if you want, but he won’t fight,” he said. “If a person wishes, he can continue for 100 years to fulfill his tasks and destroy the enemy.”
(Reporting by Serhiy Chalyi; writing by Dan Peleschuk; editing by Hugh Lawson)
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