Olga Bigar, “The Witch of Bakhmut,” shares another episode involving the daredevil soldiers of the mortar platoon of the 204th Battalion TDF.
Original video source: Territorial Defense Forces https://youtu.be/TgzuB4i1CG4
Jan 25, 2023
*Translator’s Notes:*
*Shaitán arbá* (Devil’s chariot) — that’s what the local peasants called the soviet helicopters in the Soviet-Afghan war 1979-89. The war is almost forgotten, but the term has stuck. It can be used to refer to any unusual or exceedingly loud combat vehicle.
*soldier named Sheva* — a particularly unhinged soldier of the 204th Battalion TDF, fond of Mk19 grenade launchers, the hero of many stories.
*Mk19* — 40mm automatic belt-fed grenade launcher (Effective range 2.2 km).
*AGS-17* — soviet-made automatic grenade launcher, similar to Mk19.
*”The Road of Life”* — Bakhmut-Lysychansk highway.