Euronews traveled to eastern Ukraine to report on the resilience of soldiers on the front lines.
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February 24th marks the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A conflict that cost the lives of around a hundred thousand Ukrainian soldiers and more than ten thousand civilians.
Euronews was in the Donestsk region, Donbass, eastern Ukraine.
Two years after the start of the Russian invasion, the area at the center of the conflict continues to be the scene of fierce fighting.
Underground, in a secret location less than two miles from the front line, a unit of Ukrainian soldiers specializing in drone strikes is preparing to launch against a Russian target.
Drones cannot replace artillery
Drones have become an essential tool in a conflict that has become a war of attrition.
But drones cannot replace artillery, which has no resources, says one of the commanders of the 92nd Brigade, who calls on Ukraine's international partners to urgently send more military aid.
“Without artillery and ammunition, it will be very difficult to save the lives of our soldiers and resist the enemy,” the official warned.
Russia's technological progress is making the situation on the battlefield increasingly dire. “They are ramping up their technology much faster because they have more resources than we do,” added Anton, 92nd Brigade Assault Drone Company commander.
“Shrapnel from drones is the most common injury,” Artem, an anesthetist at one of the socalled military stabilization points where injured soldiers receive emergency care straight from the front before being taken to hospital, told euronews.
Resilient and mobilized civilians alongside the military
Drones dominate the battlefield and Russians are active on the front lines. “Since we lack grenades, they are acting more aggressively because they know there will be no artillery attacks in retaliation for their movements,” the Ukrainian doctor said.
We visited one of the militarymedical evacuation units in the Donetsk region that are on standby.
Uliana Sozanska, press secretary for the 80th Brigade, was an Air Force orchestra leader. He joined the 80th Brigade to serve alongside his brother. He died shortly before arriving on the battlefield.
“Every one of us lost someone in this war because of those damn Russians. We must remain steadfast. This is our home, our country. We have to keep fighting,” said Uliana Sozanska.
An opinion shared by Roman Gasko, commander of the 80th Brigade Medical Evacuation Unit.
“The most difficult thing is the fact that we don't know how long the war will last and when it will end. This is the main question for everyone,” concluded the Ukrainian soldier.