As Ukraine war enters second winter, soldiers prepare for cold and rodents

Equipped with the experience of the harsh season last year, the soldiers say they have learned to adapt to the conditions

In a heated shelter near the eastern front line, Ukrainian serviceman, Dmytro, looked on as a mouse sniffed the air and then scuttled behind plastic sheeting insulating the walls and ceiling.

“I didn’t see any mice last winter, but this autumn and early winter there have been loads,” said the 36-year-old, who operates a BM-21 “Grad” self-propelled multiple rocket launcher.

His unit is positioned close to the industrial town of Bakhmut, an area of the front line that has seen some of the heaviest fighting of Russia’s nearly 22-month invasion.

Hidden from view under a thicket, their shelter measuring about 20 square metres was furnished with bunk beds, a kitchen area and — crucially — a small diesel-powered car heater and electricity supply powered by car batteries.

Inside, it was about 20 degrees Celsius compared with around zero outside. The sky was grey and the air damp and cold after constant rain in recent days.

The first snow of the year fell last week, signalling the start of the second winter of war for Dmytro and his fellow fighters.

The first was harsh, but the servicemen said they have learned to manage, particularly by installing heating.