In Rodynske, a small Ukrainian town north of Pokrovsk, devastation has become a daily reality. A recent Russian glide bomb strike destroyed the administrative center and nearby homes, with smoke still rising from the wreckage a day later. The nearby sounds of gunfire and artillery underscore Russia’s intensified efforts to encircle Pokrovsk and sever its supply lines.
Russian drones now constantly patrol the skies above Rodynske. The presence of these drones so far from known Russian positions suggests new territorial gains by Russian forces along a critical eastern route. Journalists in the town had to take cover after being targeted, highlighting how perilous the region has become.
In nearby Bilytske, civilians like 61-year-old Svitlana are witnessing their homes reduced to rubble. “It’s getting worse and worse,” she laments, describing how attacks have moved from distant echoes to direct hits.
Ukrainian forces, such as the 5th Assault Brigade, are struggling to move safely as Russian forces deploy hard-to-jam fibre optic drones. These new drones, connected by cable rather than radio signals, evade standard electronic countermeasures, allowing surveillance even inside buildings.
Soldiers now face longer deployments in exposed positions. Reconnaissance units, like that of Chief Sergeant Oles, endure constant danger, sometimes staying in frontline trenches for up to 120 days. Russian forces have adapted, sending lone infiltrators and using small vehicles to breach lines, blurring traditional frontlines.
Despite recent Russian advances, Ukraine’s defense holds—though stretched thin. As the war drags into a fourth summer, Ukrainian troops, many new to warfare, are learning under fire. Maksym, once a civilian working in the beverage industry, now serves on the front while missing precious moments with his toddler son. Like many others, he juggles the weight of war with the ache of family left behind.
