JUST IN: Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the bastions that hold back Russia in eastern Ukraine | International
New information reveals that the following story has emerged from the international scene.
Tension Mounts in Eastern Ukraine: Life on the Donbas Front
By International Correspondent
Ukrainian Soldiers Brace for Constant Drone Threat
Tension is palpable at a position of the 93rd Brigade of the Ukrainian Army near Druzkivka, close to Kramatorsk in eastern Donetsk. The constant presence of Russian drones overhead forces soldiers to stay low, taking cover and minimizing exposure above ground.
Screens connected to ground-level antennas help locate enemy devices, while other positions attempt to neutralize them.
Kostas, a 41-year-old officer, points at hacked images of a Russian drone on one of the screens.
“Pure electronic warfare,” he notes.
Most of these soldiers have never seen a Kremlin soldier face to face, yet live under permanent threat.
Frontline Trends: Small Gains, Long Battle
Since March 1, following the Ukrainian army’s recent advances in the east and south, data from Deep State, an independent conflict monitoring site, shows slight gains for Russian troops.
“The eastern region, consisting of Lugansk and Donetsk, is 78.5% occupied by Russia,” according to Ruslan Mykula and Roman Pogorily, founders of Deep State.
“At the current slow pace, the Kremlin would need around two years to fully subjugate the territory.”
Of the remaining 21.5% under Kyiv’s control, the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, about 15 kilometers from Russian positions, remain the main bastions.
“This will be the focus of the great battle for total control of Donbas,” the experts predict, a territory sought by Russian President Vladimir Putin and a key obstacle in peace negotiations.
Civilians Under Fire
Urban areas and surrounding towns are constantly targeted by missiles, aerial bombs, drones, and artillery, signaling the Russian approach.
“[Moscow’s troops] are identifying our weak points,” Mykula explained at a security forum in Kyiv in February.
“We anticipate at least two years of fighting, during which a large number of men, equipment, and resources will be lost.”
Military personnel on the ground fear a long campaign of attrition before Russia attempts to surround Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, both home to tens of thousands of civilians and security forces.
The battle of Pokrovsk, declared conquered by Putin last year, remains contested, highlighting the difficulty of the upcoming campaign.
Electronic Warfare at the Front
Kostas demonstrates how Ukrainian forces hack Russian drones, such as the Molinya model, tracking their position, battery level, altitude, and camera feed.
“That information is sent to central command,” he explains.
Still, he acknowledges the Russians can change frequencies mid-flight, complicating tracking efforts.
A fellow commander adds:
“You can destroy ten drones… but seven more will come.”
Ukrainian Defense Holds
President Volodymyr Zelensky has halted the anticipated Russian offensive this month. The army repelled an assault in Hryshyne, on the Pokrovsk front, and claims to have shot down an enemy helicopter with a drone.
“Local troops have frustrated the offensive the Russians had planned for March,” Zelensky confirmed in writing.
Life Amid Bombardment
Kramatorsk is transitioning from winter to spring, closing what has been described as the harshest winter since Russia’s February 2022 invasion. Residents try to maintain a semblance of normal life.
Svetlana Holovanek, 80, returned from Kyiv due to economic hardships:
“I am afraid, especially at night, when most bombings happen. We have medication and a hospital, which helps.”
Nearby, supermarkets, banks, cafes, and workshops operate amid bombed-out streets, while the ruins of Ria Pizza, hit in 2023, remain a grim reminder of the war’s toll.
Sloviansk Adapts to War
Twenty kilometers away in Sloviansk, authorities have sacrificed trolleybus circulation to install aerial protection tunnels over the streets to shield civilians from drones.
“The so-called death zone is expanding with new weapons,” a local official notes.
“It doesn’t fully protect against medium or large drones, but it provides some psychological relief for residents.”
This report paints a stark picture of life on the Donbas front: a delicate balance of resilience, electronic warfare, and civilian survival amid an ongoing and unpredictable conflict.
Analysis and Perspective:
Our editorial team will continue to monitor this situation as new details emerge.
This is part of a broader trend that has been reshaping the geopolitical landscape in recent months.
What are your thoughts on this development? Share your views in the comments below.
Source: This article was originally published in another language by Internacional en EL PAÍS and has been translated and adapted for our global English-speaking audience. Read the original article here.