War in Ukraine: Even after two years, there is no ceasefire for troops in Donbass

We are in Donbass, Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Two years after the start of the Russian invasion, the region at the center of the conflict remains locked in fierce fighting.

Underground, in a secret location, less than 3 kilometers from the front line, a unit of Ukrainian soldiers specializing in drone strikes is preparing a launch on a Russian target.

Drones have become a major asset in warfare. But they cannot replace artillery, whose resources are very scarce, says Yuri “Achilles”, unit commander in the 92nd brigade. Ukraine’s international partners were called upon to immediately send more military aid.

He warned, “Without artillery and their ammunition, it would be very difficult to save the lives of our troops and resist the enemy.”

Russian technological advances have made the situation on the battlefield even more desperate. “The speed at which they expand their technology is very fast, because they have much more resources than us,” says Anton, commander of the 92nd Brigade Attack Drone Company.

“Shrapnel from drones are the most common wounds we see,” says Artem, an anesthetist at one of the so-called military stabilization points, where wounded soldiers coming straight from the front receive immediate care before being sent to the hospital. “Drones are now shaping the battlefield and operating on the Russian front lines. Because of our lack of shells, they operate more aggressively, because they know there will be no artillery in response to their movements. There will be no attacks.”

We joined one of the military medical evacuation units of the Donetsk region on alert. Being on constant alert, the team gets a rare moment of respite. An opportunity to ask them about their morals.

Ulyana Sozanska, 80th Brigade Press Officer, was a conductor in the Air Force. He enlisted in the 80th Brigade to serve with his brother. He died on the battlefield shortly before their arrival. He tells us, “Every one of us has suffered in this war because of these damned Russians. We must resist harder. This is our homeland, our country. We must continue to fight.”

A sentiment shared by Roman Gasco, medevac unit commander of the 80th Brigade. They are not surprised that it has been 2 years since the start of a full-scale Russian invasion. “The hardest thing is that we don’t know how long this will last and when it will end. This is the main question for everyone,” he concluded.