There are huge craters everywhere. The fighting in Kherson has been fierce, but Ukraine has been making steady gains, leading to Russia being forced out. Russian general should ‘think about coup’ – latest in Ukraine And there is an urgency to how they work. They are only a few kilometers from enemy lines and their position is exposed and in the firing line. Quickly and with intense focus the drone’s arms unfold. As they hide in a crevice in the undergrowth, the propellers light up and it buzzes like a giant insect in the steel gray skies. The drone pilot – who is known by his Playboy insignia – is looking for where best to attack the Russian military. Image: A Ukrainian drone pilot launches his equipment His companion, known as Badger, helps watch for any signs of movement on the horizon. On his controller screen Playboy can see the blocked images of Russian soldiers. It notes the coordinates, the position it sees in real time is now a target. “First, we work with the artillery,” he says. “We will find the targets to find the enemies with the drones, with the different UAVs and we will take the information to the artillery and they will work on them.” Without these troops Ukraine would be shooting blindly But these Ukrainian soldiers are taking enormous risks. While they can see the enemy, the Russians also have drones and can be easily spotted. As they work, the sound of incoming arcs of fire cut through the air with a deathly whine and they hide. It loses but highlights the threat they face every day. This is dangerous work, but without this eye in the sky, Ukrainian artillery crews would be firing blindly. Further back from the front lines, troops from a volunteer platoon called Karlson, which relies on donations, load a grad rocket system with ammunition. Image: Fighters load a grad missile system with ammunition Foreign fighter says cost to Ukraine is high Among them foreign recruits. Shannon, who is a former soldier in the New Zealand Army, says he joined them because he doesn’t like “bullies”. He says the unit is having successes, but the cost to Ukraine is high. “They’re doing well,” he says. “We’re pushing them back and they’ve fallen back and unfortunately, they’re destroying everything as they go. “They are targeting many schools and buildings that have no military value other than disrupting the way of life. It’s very sad”. Image: Ukrainian fighters exposed to Russian artillery fire There is no time for wandering as winter sets in With winter on its way, the fight for Kherson has become more desperate in recent weeks. Ukraine is eager to take advantage of its momentum and Russia’s recently announced retreat. The artillery team soon receives the coordinates from the drone reconnaissance unit and heads to the launch site. The firing position is primed and it is not long before the target is lined up. There is no time for company. Everything must be done with speed. As they fire, shouts of “glory to Ukraine” fill the air and several grad rockets soon burn through the sky en route to the target. Images taken by the drone team show the impact – the explosions sending shock waves into the Russian trenches they spotted earlier. It is this kind of artillery barrage that forces the Russians to retreat. Image: An open battlefield littered with shell casings Playboy says that in this area Ukraine now has the advantage. “This is the war between the artillery mainly – who has the best? He has an advantage on the battlefield. “We are moving forward and even where we have less strength on the battlefield we are trying to get the results.” But even before the smoke clears from the missile launch, the Ukrainian artillery team escapes. They are vulnerable now to a swift counterattack. This fight here is a clash of nerves and firepower and for now on this dangerous border Ukraine is winning.
