Ukrainian soldiers express doubts as diplomatic talks continue over territory.

 

On the frontline, Ukrainian troops remain skeptical about the prospect of ceding territory in ongoing diplomatic discussions. As the soldiers of the 150th reconnaissance and strike battalion gather for a simple barbecue of meat and roasted vegetables, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with US President Donald Trump, who has pledged "very good protection" for Ukraine.

Amidst the evening meal, when Trump's promise is mentioned, a soldier humorously asks, "From who?"

 

This wry comment underscores the ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding US support. Despite these political developments, frontline soldiers are detached from the news, focused instead on the realities and demands of the war that persist after over three years of intense conflict.

 

In a quiet but tense night operation, a squad of soldiers prepares a bomber drone on the fringes of a sunflower field. Equipped with 3.5kg explosives, the drone is swiftly assembled and launched from a catapult, prompting an immediate evacuation to avoid detection by Russian surveillance. This is the precarious reality soldiers face, regardless of what is discussed in meeting rooms far away.

 

Just six miles away, the village of Dobropillia remains under Russian attack. The soldiers witness flashes of orange light and tracer bullets in the night sky, indicating ongoing combat, likely with Ukrainian forces targeting Russian drones. The previous day saw 67 Russian attacks near Dobropillia alone, resulting in multiple casualties and highlighting the intensity of the conflict.

Denys Bryzhatyi, the battalion commander and a former law student, emphasizes the strategic danger of conceding Donetsk. He warns that ceding this fortified region would open new vulnerabilities in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia, which lack similar fortifications. Giving up Donetsk, he says, would be a grave loss for Ukraine's defense.

 

New defensive structures—trenches lined with dragon’s teeth and barbed wire—mark the landscape, part of Ukraine's efforts to resist the advancing Russian forces. These are the very defenses that would be compromised if territorial concessions were made.

The battalion employs advanced technology, using Airplast bomber drones capable of striking targets up to 25 miles away. Each night, the crew undertakes several missions, guided by previous reconnaissance. Daytime operations involve Vector drones, demanding meticulous setup in hidden dugouts. They provide high-quality reconnaissance footage, critical for identifying targets and adapting strategies.

 

Troops monitor signals from Russian drones, acutely aware of the threats posed by FPV drones piloted with precision to deliver explosive payloads. Any sign of enemy drones prompts quick retreats into bunkers, underscoring the constant threat faced by these soldiers.

 

The 150th's innovation extends to producing bomb casings and components using 3D printers. This rapid manufacture of munitions, including assembling explosives into 3D-printed tubes, enhances their combat readiness, reflecting an adaptive military strategy amid fighting.

 

Veteran soldiers like Puma, who has survived near-fatal confrontations in 2016, continue to engage in dangerous reconnaissance operations. Despite personal risk, there is a steadfast determination to protect Ukrainian territory. Discussions of concessions appear as distractions to many on the ground.

 

Optimus, another soldier, questions the sense in ceding land after significant sacrifices and losses. For him and others, the very idea challenges the resilience and purpose behind their continued fight. The sentiments echo a broader resolve within Ukraine's armed forces to maintain their territorial integrity against Russian aggression.

 

Despite diplomatic efforts, the reality for these troops is clear: the fight for Ukraine's borders is far from over, and any land concessions are met with skepticism from those directly engaged in this ongoing war.

Tag: Ukraine Conflict

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Guardian 2025-08-20

 

 

Salva Ukraine death to putin you heroic nation!

How about being grateful to still have a country if the war is finished

1 hour ago, angryguy said:

How about being grateful to still have a country if the war is finished

Why the negative emoji?

1 minute ago, scorecard said:

Why the negative emoji?

Common sense is unpopular here

1 hour ago, angryguy said:

How about being grateful to still have a country if the war is finished

Re the negative emoji.  Do you want Russsia to win this war then proceed to fight / conduct wars to take over more regional countries?

Just now, angryguy said:

Common sense is unpopular here

 

So what does that mean?

1 hour ago, angryguy said:

How about being grateful to still have a country if the war is finished

They won't have a country if they cave to Putin's demands 

Just now, Jingthing said:

They won't have a country if they cave to Putin's demands 

They wont have a country if they dont

10 minutes ago, angryguy said:

They wont have a country if they dont

They might.

Caving to Putin means they definitely won't.

Putin doesn’t want peace.

He wants surrender. 

Just now, Jingthing said:

They might.

Caving to Putin means they definitely won't.

Putin doesn’t want peace.

He wants surrender. 

Ukraine doesnt decide the terms anymore. They put their fate with trump and they will get what they get

2 minutes ago, angryguy said:

Ukraine doesnt decide the terms anymore. They put their fate with trump and they will get what they get

You're wrong.

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Salva Ukraine death to putin you heroic nation!

Ukraine will be the graveyard of Russian and North KOrean soldiers. According to CSIS data, Russian military forces have failed to effectively advance along multiple axes in Ukraine and suffered remarkable high rates of quantities of equipment relative to Ukraine and fatalities since Jan 2024. 

 

Ukraine's military are heavily dugged in with trenches, dragon teeth, mines and other barriers and with added artilleries and drones to attrict Russian soldiers and vehicles advance. Some analysts think that Russia has 6-12 months of sustainable economic resources to continue the war. Ukraine can thwart Russia invasion if only TRump has the fortitude to impose the heavy sanctions and rolled out more offensive military aids and air defence. This seem a long shot when Putin has Trump's calling card. Trump is the biggest obstacle to stopping the war in Ukraine. 

 

9 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You're wrong.

Beggars cant be choosers comes to mind with this articles title

Throughout history frontline troops become aware, sooner or later during conflict, that they are being used as cannon fodder by those that rule over them.

5 minutes ago, angryguy said:

Beggars cant be choosers comes to mind with this articles title

Your disdain for Ukraine mirrors Putin and Trump. 

46 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

They won't have a country if they cave to Putin's demands 

 

The sooner they stop fighting, the more territory that Ukraine will keep.  And the fewer Ukrainians who will die.

 

Sucks for sure.  But that's the sad reality.  Or they could force Putin to take more and more.

 

18 minutes ago, angryguy said:

Beggars cant be choosers comes to mind with this articles title

Go volunteer for Russia if you hate freedom so much.sure glad your ilk didn’t win in the 40s

 

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

The sooner they stop fighting, the more territory that Ukraine will keep.  And the fewer Ukrainians who will die.

 

Sucks for sure.  But that's the sad reality.  Or they could force Putin to take more and more.

 

Unfortunately with putin it will only be a pause resupply retrain new meat and push on to Poland ect.

Just now, Tug said:

Go volunteer for Russia if you hate freedom so much.sure glad your ilk didn’t win in the 40s

 

Unfortunately with putin it will only be a pause resupply retrain new meat and push on to Poland ect.

Tuggy you and me both know i care about the US waayyyyy more than you do

3 minutes ago, Tug said:

Unfortunately with putin it will only be a pause resupply retrain new meat and push on to Poland ect.

 

Do you honestly believe he'll attack a NATO country? 

 

You've been sipping at the warmonger Kool Aid.

9 minutes ago, angryguy said:

Tuggy you and me both know i care about the US waayyyyy more than you do

I’m not a fascist I like democracy you can follow your pidepiper felon imbezzler sex offender wanna be dictator were ever you like.

19 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

The sooner they stop fighting, the more territory that Ukraine will keep.  And the fewer Ukrainians who will die.

 

Sucks for sure.  But that's the sad reality.  Or they could force Putin to take more and more.

 

That's absurd. Putin doesn't want peace. He wants surrender. For Ukraine to give up large parts of land Russia hasn't even occupied would be insane and they won't do it. Russia has gained about 1 percent more land in 1000 days! On the other hand Ukraine is rapidly chipping away at Russia's oil refining capacity. There is much more to this war than the front lines. Ukraine has cards.

1 minute ago, Tug said:

I’m not a fascist I like democracy you can follow your pidepiper felon imbezzler sex offender wanna be dictator were ever you like.

Bet you dont even know what the meaning of fascist is anymore just one of those buzzwords that stuck when the media turned your brain to mush

14 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Do you honestly believe he'll attack a NATO country? 

 

You've been sipping at the warmonger Kool Aid.

He will if he thinks he'll get away with it.

A Russian missile deep into Poland yesterday.

Poland responds with a stern toothless letter.

That's weak and Putin is all about exploiting weakness.

Russia won't agree to any real security guarantees.

This peace "negotiation" is basically finished already.

Trump's idiotic mistake was pushing for talks prematurely before doing what needed to be done to further weaken Russia with more arms aid for Ukraine and crushing secondary sanctions. That's the only way Putin will ever enter talks fairly. He needs to be forced. Instead he has a poodle in Washington. 

Ukraine didn't invade Russia. Why give up parcels of their land. Would America give up Alaska?

3 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Ukraine didn't invade Russia. Why give up parcels of their land. Would America give up Alaska?

If there ever are more fair peace talks, most likely Ukraine will end up needing to accept some occupation of their lands without ever acknowledging that as legal, final, or legitimate. That gives them hope of reversal 50 years from now which isn't unheard of. But they'll never give up lands that Russia hasn't already occupied.

But we're nowhere even close to Russia offering a fair deal. 

1 minute ago, Purdey said:

Ukraine didn't invade Russia. Why give up parcels of their land. Would America give up Alaska?

With logic like that ukraine is headed to not be a country. Glad trumps not a moron like you

1 minute ago, angryguy said:

With logic like that ukraine is headed to not be a country. Glad trumps not a moron like you

Putin's maximalist goals haven't changed one bit -- to make Ukraine not a country.

Your posts smell of you agreeing with that.

17 minutes ago, angryguy said:

Bet you dont even know what the meaning of fascist is anymore just one of those buzzwords that stuck when the media turned your brain to mush

I dono I did a lot of reading standing watch and for entertainment most historical non fiction stuff I’ve got a pretty good idea what a fascist is.

3 minutes ago, angryguy said:

With logic like that ukraine is headed to not be a country. Glad trumps not a moron like you

Your trump thinks he needs to take his effin license plate to vote for crying out loud….talk about mush for brains lmao 🤣