Early within the morning they have been at their frontline positions, firing artillery at Russian forces. Hours later, carrying the identical uniforms and physique armor, they handed their remaining check — an impediment course — to formally develop into Ukrainian marines.

Running by puddles and dirt, climbing below barbed wire and throughout simulated anti-tank ditches, they shouted, “Glory to Ukraine!” and “I love the marines!” Commanders barked orders and made them drop for push-ups.

When they have been carried out, they piled into pickup vans and drove again to the entrance to rejoin Ukraine’s counteroffensive in southern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian navy, straining to replenish its ranks in the midst of conflict, trains troopers and places them by qualifying exams even after they’re deployed to the entrance. The impediment course the marines went by on a heat summer season afternoon lately was one instance: constructed just some miles from the precise preventing, together with the identical sorts of trenches, bunkers and barbed wire used within the conflict towards Russia.

Candidates from the thirty sixth Marine Brigade have been rotated off the entrance line to run the course. To participate, candidates wanted no less than three months of fight expertise. Many within the first group of 40 artillerymen had seen greater than that.

“I am fighting for eight months already and all the time at the hardest parts of the front,” stated Lieutenant Arseniy, who, like others interviewed for this text, requested to be recognized solely by his first identify and rank for safety causes. Though an artillery platoon commander, he had not but certified to put on the marine beret.

Muddy and exhausted, the lads nonetheless have been in good spirits, greeting each other earlier than operating the course.

“A day has come when you can show that you are a true marine,” Maj. Nazariy Tofan, who was serving to to guide the coaching, informed the candidates. “You should remember this race for the rest of your life.”

As Ukraine fights alongside lots of of miles of entrance line in a conflict that has lasted 17 months and reveals no signal of easing, it should substitute fallen troopers and proceed coaching those that deployed with out finishing formal preparation. The thirty sixth Marine Brigade fought within the southern metropolis of Mariupol after Russia started its full-scale invasion final winter, holding out for weeks in a metal manufacturing facility that was pounded relentlessly by Moscow’s forces.

Many died or have been wounded, and greater than a thousand have been captured. The brigade’s former commander continues to be a prisoner of conflict in Russia.

Only about 200 marines escaped the encirclement. Survivors have been redeployed to struggle within the southern Kherson area and new troops have been referred to as up. The thirty sixth is now across the typical dimension of a brigade, about 4,000 marines.

The impediment course was designed to simulate as intently as doable precise fight situations. Smoke grenades and fireworks went off. There was an ambush. Fellow marines fired blanks and yelled on the candidates.

Private Serhiy, 54, began to fall behind. A physician got here to verify on him, discovered he had hypertension and administered an injection. He didn’t go the course.

“This war is not for me anymore,” he stated.

“It’s not for any of us in Ukraine,” the physician replied.

The different candidates ran on, struggling by mud and burning tires. When the course was over, 39 of the 40 had certified.

After different teams accomplished the problem, a ceremony was held the place the newly minted marines swore their oath — to be courageous and never go away brothers in arms behind — and acquired their berets. Then they returned to the entrance.