As cease-fire talks have flared and faltered, the battle for eastern Ukraine has only intensified.
Ukrainian troops confront a Russian offensive that is gaining momentum.
Civilians remain in the shattered towns they are defending.
Evacuations, too, have grown more dangerous.
Both civilians and soldiers have learned to watch for one unrelenting threat.
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Under a Drone-Swarmed Sky: Surviving in Eastern Ukraine
Even miles from the front line, anything that moves in eastern Ukraine is a target.
That’s because as Russia’s summer offensive gains momentum, it is increasingly relying on drones of all kinds to gain control over Ukraine’s territory.
Under attack by drones, Ukrainian soldiers are struggling to maintain supply lines around the towns of Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. There is greater peril for civilians remaining in their homes, and for the humanitarian groups trying to evacuate them. Some Russian drones strike at ranges up to 24 miles.
Senior Lt. Yevhen Alkhimov, a spokesman for the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said movement to and from positions now posed the greatest risk for his soldiers. Nightfall brought no safety because more Russian drones had thermal imaging cameras. Once at the actual bunkers and trenches on the front, “it is usually possible to work,” he said.
