We first met the drone unit two years ago fighting in the Kharkiv region, in north-eastern Ukraine.
Just four of the original team remain – the rest have moved to other units, or they have been wounded or killed.
Among the dead was the brother of the man in charge of the unit, Oleksandr, who now describes his unit as his family.
He jokes it is just like the Peaky Blinders TV show – “but without the crime and the drugs”. Back at their base they share a meal every evening.
Oleksandr reads out a prayer of thanks for surviving another day – he says it strengthens their spirits. The meal is accompanied by classical music played on a speaker. It helps drown out the noise of the explosions nearby.
“I feel this is the most difficult situation we’ve ever faced,” says Oleksandr, who underlines the importance of holding the line.
“We must be here to inflict maximum damage on the enemy. We’re fighting here because this is where the most intense phase of the war is taking place. Russia’s claim that they will reach the borders of the Donbas, seize it, and then the war will end is absolutely false,” he insists.
The remaining fortress belt cities provide Ukraine with a strong defensive line and are a major obstacle to any Russian advance. The saturation of drones in the area is also now making it nigh-on impossible for either side to advance here.
Peace talks may have resumed, but Oleksandr notes they have not led to anything so far.
“I really want this war to end,” he says, “but do I believe these negotiations will succeed? No, I don’t really believe they will”.
