Plumes of smoke are emerging from various areas, buildings are in ruins, and many apartment buildings in Dobropillia, a coal-mining town near the front line in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, are scarred by Russian glide bomb attacks.
The remaining residents in Dobropillia are struggling to find food and water under the constant surveillance of drones. Viktoriya Sergeeva, a 45-year-old who operates one of the city’s few remaining supermarkets, shared her tragic story of losing her parents in a recent bombing in Pokrovsk.
Refugees like Sergeeva have increased Dobropillia’s population, which has plummeted from 28,000 residents in 2022 to less than 1,500 due to the ongoing conflict. Russian soldiers are now present in the town, blending in with the locals, creating a chaotic and unrecognizable battlefield compared to two years ago.
The region comprising Dobropillia, Pokrovsk, and Myrnohrad is currently the most intense front of the war. Russia is aggressively pushing to capture the area, while Ukraine has deployed significant forces, including a top infantry brigade, to defend the territory.
The shift in warfare tactics is evident, with drones playing a crucial role in the conflict. The use of drones has forced Ukrainian units to downsize and adapt their strategies to counter the new threat. Soldiers now face challenges navigating the battlefield, with resupply missions relying on drone deliveries to reach forward positions.
Efforts to counter the drone threat are ongoing, with innovative solutions being tested constantly. Ukrainian commanders emphasize the importance of using drones for surveillance and early threat detection to protect their troops.
The scale of losses on both sides is staggering, with a high number of casualties reported among Ukrainian forces. The mental toll on commanders is significant, as they bear the weight of sending their troops into perilous situations.
As the conflict persists, the depopulation and destruction of Ukrainian-held territories continue. Amidst the turmoil, Dobropillia faces an uncertain future, with the looming possibility of becoming the next front line in the war. Talk of a ceasefire seems distant to soldiers like Achilles, who continue to face the harsh realities of combat daily.