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Drones turned the front into a "destruction zone": Russian soldiers are afraid to leave the trenches

Duration: 3:55 553 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

The front lines in Ukraine have evolved into what is described as a "destruction zone," where the constant presence of surveillance drones and precision strikes has made traditional military movements extremely perilous. Soldiers frequently suffer injuries or death while attempting to move between their own fortified positions, forcing both Ukrainian and Russian troops to remain trapped in trenches for extended periods. This environment has created a situation where even routine tasks such as personnel rotation, equipment delivery, or changing defensive lines pose a severe threat to the safety of military personnel. The area surrounding the front is so saturated with drone activity that it is often referred to as a kill zone, rendering any unauthorized movement highly risky and potentially fatal. The dangers faced by soldiers are particularly acute during moments of troop rotation, which commanders identify as one of the most vulnerable phases of combat operations. Reports indicate that simply reaching front-line positions can take days, with many soldiers forced to wait for favorable weather conditions or a window of opportunity provided by friendly fire support to advance without being detected. For instance, members of the 121st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade were unable to complete rotations for four months due to the overwhelming threat posed by drones and artillery. In some cases, soldiers had to endure hours of shelling without moving, while others described playing dead after being hit in hopes of surviving long enough to eventually emerge and run to safety. Life within these trenches has also been marked by severe logistical challenges and psychological strain, as troops struggled with food shortages and the fear that their own defensive structures might collapse under bombardment. Western militaries are now compelled to rethink traditional combat concepts because the speed of modern battlefield kill chains allows for the detection and neutralization of moving targets within minutes. This shift has influenced training programs at camps like Dzhomshurg in Poland, where instructors from various nations, including Norway, study the unique practical experience Ukrainian forces have gained in modern trench warfare. Consequently, Western armies are not only sharing their own technological developments but also adopting specific tactical methods developed by Ukrainian troops directly through their combat experiences on the front lines.

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The front line in Ukraine remains extremely dangerous with soldiers frequently injured or killed while moving between their own strongholds. Due to constant surveillance and drone strikes, personnel rotation, the delivery of necessary equipment, and the changing of positions can pose a serious threat to the military. This is forcing Western armies to rethink traditional approaches to combat. Brigadier General Adel Mold, commander of the International Task Force Legio group, which trains Ukrainian troops in Europe, told Business Insider this. "We are hearing that Ukrainian troops are suffering significant losses while penetrating and evacuating from their own trench systems as the front has remained unchanged for a very long time." Mold said. "But Russian soldiers are also afraid to leave the trenches. In particular, swarms of drones collect intelligence and carry out strikes, making any movement risky." Ukrainian commanders cite troop rotation as one of the most vulnerable moments for soldiers on the front lines. And the area around the front line, over saturated with drones, is often referred to as a kill zone. A Ukrainian official previously told Business Insider that simply getting to front line positions can take days [music] and that in many cases it's the most dangerous part of the mission. Some soldiers also reported being forced to remain in one position for months because drones and artillery made safe passage too dangerous. They had to wait for favorable weather, support from friendly fire forces, or a lucky break to advance without being immediately detected and attacked. For example, [music] soldiers from the 121st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade reported in August that they had been unable to complete rotations for 4 months. >> [music] >> They also experienced problems with food and water supplies. A US veteran who previously fought for Ukraine said life in the trenches often consisted of simply waiting while artillery shells fell on you for hours without a break. Another American veteran who fought for Ukraine said soldiers sometimes had difficulty deepening or strengthening their trenches because they didn't want to stick their heads out. "When guys try to move," the veteran said, "they go out and immediately start getting hit and then they have to play dead hoping that eventually they'll take a short break to get up and start running. Even staying put can provide some security." They described being literally just stuck and hoping nothing would collapse or fall into the trench. This is why, as the publication writes, "During the training of Ukrainian troops at the Dzhomsburg [music] camp in Poland, significant attention is paid to trench operations and safer movement between positions. The training infrastructure is based on the real-life experience of Ukrainian troops and is constantly evolving in response to the situation on the front. Norwegian instructors note that Ukrainian troops possess unique practical experience in modern trench warfare. Therefore, during the exercises, Western troops not only share their own developments, but also adopt methods developed by Ukrainians directly during combat. According to Business Insider, the trench warfare in Ukraine is unlike anything Western militaries have seen in a long time forcing Western armies to rethink traditional warfare concepts. Drones monitor positions, battlefield kill chains are faster, allowing for movement detection and response within minutes and [music] even routine resupply and rotational missions can turn into deadly combat operations.