Inside the 'kill-zone' on Ukraine's front line, where new weapons have transformed war

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Inside the 'kill-zone' on Ukraine's front line, where new weapons have transformed war43 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleAbdujalil AbdurasulovEastern Ukraine93rd brigade, UAFA member of the 93rd brigade checks the sky for drones in the frontline town of KostyantynivkaAfter 225 days stuck in a front-line foxhole, the Ukrainian infantryman's muscles were so weak he could barely walk. His commanders had tried five times to swap him with another soldier - but they could never reach him. Rotating soldiers on the front line in eastern Ukraine is extremely difficult because of the constant threat of drones.

This area near Kostyantynivka is currently one of the most dangerous hotspots and the Ukrainian military admits that Russian forces have reached its outskirts. Known as Kenya, the infantryman took two days to walk 11km (6. 8 miles) to get back to his brigade, avoiding mines and hiding from drones to get out.

The Details

Ukraine's 93rd brigade has the job of defending Kostyantynivka and its surrounding towns and villages from Russia's advance. If this highly strategic city falls, Moscow will be able to push towards the last remaining Ukrainian strongholds in the Donbas region – Kramatorsk and Sloviansk – from the north, east and south. Vladimir Putin sees the capture of the Donbas as Russia's "priority goal", and Ukrainian intelligence says he wants it done this year.

President Volodymyr Zelensky believes the Kremlin is planning another major offensive in the summer. But Russia's campaign has lately become bogged down in the region. Moscow gained half as much territory in the Donbas in April than in March, and a sixth of what it captured in December 2025, according to Ukrainian monitoring website DeepState.

Kenya's task was to maintain his position and listen for any movement outside. He and his comrade would engage only if Russian troops tried to move against them. Watch: Kenya's story of 225 days inside Ukraine's 'kill zone'"Most fighting was done by drones," he said.

What Experts Say

And these weapons have transformed how wars are fought. Kenya and his brigade are living through what appears to be the paradox of modern warfare. As machines increasingly replace humans on the front line, the greater the role of troops becomes in either seizing land or defending it.

Gone are the battles where a column of tanks and waves of soldiers charge enemy positions. Instead, assaults often involve two or three soldiers walking across a field or riding motorbikes, sometimes even on horseback or on bicycles. Speed has become more important than armour if you want to survive inside the "kill-zone" - a wide and desolate area dominated by drones that hunt down anything that moves.

This is a grey zone along the front line within the range of drones piloted remotely from both sides. "Every time when we had to come out of our positions, we prayed we would come back alive," said Kenya.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.