ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine: Oleksandr Taran’s cellular artillery unit is not formally a part of Ukraine’s army, however that hasn’t stopped his males from destroying Russian targets on their very own dime.
“We … get by because of the pension fund,” the 68-year-old commander – whose name signal is “Grandpa” – stated with a chuckle.
Taran’s all-volunteer unit, the Steppe Wolves, is comprised of dozens of Ukrainian males principally over 60 years previous who’re thought of too previous to be drafted however nonetheless wish to struggle.
Roving behind the entrance line with truck-mounted rocket launchers, they take orders from discipline commanders and work with different troops, contributing to the warfare effort regardless of missing official help from the army.
The unit is funded by donations and stocked with defective rounds they restore themselves in addition to weapons captured from the enemy. Each are delivered to them by front-line troops.
When Reuters just lately visited their base within the southeastern Zaporizhzhia area, they had been getting ready 122mm Grad rocket rounds that had been later fired by troops from one other unit.