Troops Have ‘Scary’ Message About Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Against Russia

SOUTHERN UKRAINE—Twenty-five-year-old Andriy almost paid the ultimate price on a mission near Bakhmut that had the Ukrainian soldier running through Russian minefields and toward enemy positions—all while attempting to dodge a hail of machine gunfire.

The mission in mid-July was part of the Ukrainian counteroffensive to try to encircle Bakhmut, which had fallen to Russia earlier this year after months of battle. The city has been reduced to rubble.

“Tanks also worked in the area. In one place, everything was crushed, and there was no cover for 50 meters,” Andriy—who didn’t want…