On a small road around Chostka (Oblast de Soumy), in northeast Ukraine, a small convoy of large cars park in the middle of nowhere. Serhi Kostinsky puts his phone in plane mode, leaves his all-terrain vehicle and travels 200 meters on foot to a banal appearance building. 43 years old, this large bearded blonde commanded a company of dronists (around 100 soldiers) in the 104e Territorial Defense Brigade. This is where the company of the SERAFIMY Company (“Séraphins”, in French) is located, about twenty kilometers from the Russian border.
Here, the immediate danger comes from the sky. As the main industrial center for manufacturing explosives and ammunition in the country, Chostka was the target of massive air attacks. The Zvezda (Canon Powder) and Impuls (Detonators) factories were targeted several times in 2024, notably by thirteen ballistic missiles on December 31, 2024. “Our main national ammunition production site has been wiped out”deplores Anton Serbin, officer of the 104e brigade. The city remains under a vigilant observation of the enemy.
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Source: Lemonde