ORIKHIV, Ukraine—Standing in city hall, with flies buzzing in and out of the shattered windows and the roof partially covered by a tarp, Mayor Anatoliy Hvorostyanov calls the sound of U.S.-supplied Himars rocket systems “the voice of God.”
For residents, however, life grew even tougher.
“The shelling has become more chaotic,” Mr. Hvorostyanov says. “And bloodier.”
Anatoly Hvorostyanyi, mayor of Orikhiv, starts his day with a drive around the city to assess any fresh damage.
The situation in Orikhiv shows the challenge of trying to hold off—and push back—the invading Russians while also protecting Ukrainian civilians.
Russian troops are now about 5 miles outside the city—twice as far as two months ago.
With more space between the two sides, the Russians are using heavier weaponry, without risk of hitting their own troops. Instead of tank fire and other light artillery, they are now pummeling the area with rockets, which do far more damage.
The same situation can be found across the southern front line, where Ukrainian officials have telegraphed a counteroffensive to retake territory that Russians seized in the first days of the war. Russians are also gearing up for a battle, and have sent in thousands of troops to the region.
“The Russians have taken a step back, because they’re afraid of the Himars,” says a special operations commander stationed south of Kryviy Rih. “Mortars and light artillery are out of range now, and they’re using more heavy artillery. It’s the same number of shells, but they’re doing more damage.”
Orikhiv, in the Zaporizhzhia region, is a short distance from Ukraine’s front line.
A resident moves one of the Russian rockets that fell in the area…
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