They refer to it as "dronocide": new training aimed at addressing what has become the biggest danger to a Ukrainian soldier's life in combat – drones.
These devices proliferate on the front lines and contribute to the highest number of casualties, according to Ukrainian sources. Suppose Donald Trump is unable to persuade Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire during their meeting in Alaska this Friday. In that case, this training in eastern Ukraine may prove crucial for protecting lives on the battlefield.
The ongoing military preparations indicate that few in Ukraine anticipate an end to this conflict anytime soon. The training methods are not particularly advanced; they rely on a shotgun approach. The soldiers participate in exercises to strike rapidly moving targets – first firing from a stationary position and then while advancing. Ihor, their seasoned trainer, explains that a shotgun is currently their best tool for downing a drone at close distances.
Ihor has been engaged in combat on Ukraine's eastern front since 2014, the same year Russia unlawfully annexed Crimea and deployed troops to the Donbas region. His call sign is "The Knifer." He also instructs troops in close-quarters combat.
For the past decade, Ihor has been striving to halt the Russian push. He reacts strongly to any notion that Ukraine may need to relinquish land as part of any "land swap."
"Neither my comrades nor I are prepared for this," he tells me. He asserts that they would prefer to continue fighting until "we reclaim our territories."
That appears improbable, especially since several Ukrainian front-line units are now significantly undermanned. A soldier informed us that the renewed attempts to enlist more troops have been a "disaster." They are acutely aware that they remain outgunned and outnumbered.
Ukrainian soldiers also confess their fatigue and acknowledge they are losing ground. This is an unmistakable reality. However, the training they are undergoing demonstrates that they are not ready to surrender.
Oleksii, one of the soldiers practicing with a shotgun, acknowledges he has already lost his father and friends in the conflict.
He concedes that "the war must be stopped one way or another." However, when it comes to the idea of Ukraine ceding more territory to Russia, he states: "That wouldn't be my suggestion; I don't support this notion."
Ukrainian soldiers emphasize that Russia is also incurring significant losses, with around 1,000 casualties—dead or injured—every day. Additionally, Russia's resources are gradually being depleted.
The perspectives from the front line are mirrored in Ukraine's towns and cities. Civilians are experiencing the ramifications of this war more acutely, especially with the recent escalation of Russian missile and drone strikes throughout the nation. Last month, Russia launched over 6,000 drones against Ukraine. In July 2024, that number was considerably lower—just above 400.
In the streets of Kyiv, there is a clear desire to see the conflict resolved. Oleksandr states, "If we don't stop, we will lose even more territory and people." He likens it to gambling in a casino: "The more you play, the more you lose."
Volodymyr, a nearby observer, feels pessimistic about the upcoming discussions between Presidents Trump and Putin. He suspects that Ukraine may have to concede more land in exchange for a ceasefire. "We lack the resources," he states. "All of our guys are either in heaven or in the hospital."
President Zelensky has already shared his dissatisfaction about Ukraine's absence from the discussions in Alaska. He has also made it clear that he will not be relinquishing Ukrainian land. "It's not mine to dispose of," he remarked earlier this week. However, some recent surveys indicate that a growing number of Ukrainians have come to terms with the possibility of sacrificing territory for peace.
Ultimately, few believe that Russia genuinely seeks peace. Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of parliament and head of Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Committee, perceives the Alaska meeting as merely a publicity stunt for President Putin.
"Putin has no intention of reaching a compromise," Merezhko asserts. "He believes he is winning the war. He will not relent."
Merezhko also rejects President Trump's idea that Ukraine will need to "sign something."
"Absolutely not," he states. "I do not believe any agreement that leads to our destruction can be forced upon Ukraine." He argues that it is both ethically and legally unacceptable to sacrifice people's homes for the sake of peace.
However, many Ukrainians have already endured the loss of their homes and lives. The UN reports that over 13,000 civilians have died in the conflict, and 3.5 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their residences.
Over 500 of the displaced individuals are currently residing in a makeshift village located just outside the capital. Their new accommodations consist of metal containers instead of traditional brick and mortar. Many of these individuals are elderly people who escaped the violence in the East. There’s a small playground for children who are unlikely to ever see the towns and villages where they were born. Their previous homes now lie within occupied territory.
The 78-year-old Hennadii is brought to tears as he shares that he believes he will never be able to visit his mother’s grave again. He expresses his enduring longing for what he had to abandon. "I enjoyed fishing there, I had a small piece of land with my grapes and my walnut tree," he reminisces. "And now it’s all gone."
None of the people we speak to here seems very optimistic about the upcoming discussions between Presidents Trump and Putin. "I sincerely wish for something positive to come from those talks, but my hopes are minimal," remarks Valeria, an 18-year-old student whose family lost their home.
Conversely, 78-year-old Valentina displays a more resolute attitude. Her husband was killed by a missile from Russia. "This is our land, and our people are dying to protect it," she asserts. "How can we surrender it? Absolutely not."
In Alaska, Presidents Trump and Putin will be discussing the future of Ukraine without any Ukrainian representation, effectively sidelining them.
Although Ukraine may be gradually losing this war, it has not yet been conquered. This complicates the efforts of anyone attempting to impose a peace agreement that Ukraine cannot accept.
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