- Title: Ukrainian soldiers shrug off ceasefire as Russians press on Pokrovsk
- Date: 2nd April 2025
- Summary: DNIPROPETROVSK REGION, UKRAINE (APRIL 1, 2025) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SOLDIER IN COMBAT GEAR ON DOORSTEP AT HOUSE WHERE SOLDIERS REST IN BETWEEN ROTATIONS MILITARY PANTS DRYING ON CLOTHING ROPE VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS DRINKING COFFEE ON DOORSTEP OF HOUSE CHICKENS IN ENCLOSURE (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) DRIVER FOR 59TH ASSAULT BRIGADE AND FORMER TRACTOR DRIVER FROM VINNYTSIA REGION,
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Donald Trump FPV Jeddah Russia Vladimir Putin Volodymyr Zelenskiy artillery ceasefire drone
- Location: DNIPROPETROVSK REGION & UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, UKRAINE
- City: DNIPROPETROVSK REGION & UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001358702042025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ukrainian artillerymen, returning from a five-day rotation on the Pokrovsk front, expressed doubts on Tuesday (April 1) about the likelihood of a sustained ceasefire with Russia.
The soldiers, part of the 59th Assault Brigade, have been operating at an undisclosed location on the Pokrovsk front, where they have been safeguarding the flanks of the embattled city.
The soldiers spoke of past experiences with Russia-backed separatists who have repeatedly violated ceasefires since the conflict began in 2014 in eastern Ukraine and conveyed a general distrust towards the Russian leadership.
For months, Ukrainian troops have been repelling Russian assaults around the city. Moscow's forces have been slowly advancing, with the aim of capturing the entire region.
Among the numerous threats faced by the soldiers daily, first-person view (FPV) drones pose a significant challenge. These remotely-controlled, explosives-laden commercial drones have become prevalent on the battlefield.
While FPV drones are increasingly used for strikes, surveillance drones play a crucial role in assisting artillery to direct its fire in support of infantry operations.
The soldiers have taken up residence in civilian houses located dozens of kilometers away from the front lines. Some of these homes have been generously lent by local residents, while others, previously abandoned, have been repaired by their new inhabitants.
This distance from the battlefield provides the men with a much-needed sense of safety, absent from the fighting positions, and allows them to recuperate.
(Production: Manuel Ausloos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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