Sergeant Serhii Tyshchenko stayed at the front for 471 consecutive days. Drones hunted down every vehicle sent to reach him. The road out was more dangerous than staying.
FT: This is Ukraine kill zone. 1/
The kill zone stretches 30 km from Russian positions. Nothing moves inside it in daylight — no trucks, no ambulances, no supply columns.
Taras Chmut, founder of Come Back Alive: “Warfare changed in a radical way.”Every month the zone grows wider.” 2/
Taras Chmut, founder of Come Back Alive: “Warfare changed in a radical way.”Every month the zone grows wider.” 2/
Russian FPV drones tethered to 40 km of fibre-optic cable lie dormant beside roads, then rise and strike the first vehicle that passes.
No radio signal can jam them. Drone founder Mike Dewhirst calls it a new form of dynamic mining. 3/
No radio signal can jam them. Drone founder Mike Dewhirst calls it a new form of dynamic mining. 3/
When a wounded soldier cannot move, commanders send a robot. An unmanned ground vehicle crawls forward under netting, reaches the man, and carries him back.
If the robot doesn’t survive, the soldier waits for fog thick enough to mask evacuation. 4/
If the robot doesn’t survive, the soldier waits for fog thick enough to mask evacuation. 4/
Kherson: 60,000 residents, daily drone fire. In 2025 alone — 235,000 artillery strikes, 100,000 drone attacks, 307 killed, 40,000 buildings destroyed.
Governor Prokudin’s answer was a dome over the city built almost entirely from fishing nets. 5/
Governor Prokudin’s answer was a dome over the city built almost entirely from fishing nets. 5/
Three net layers, mesh 25mm to 150mm, cover 100 road tunnels and shield 14 hospitals. Spanish nets proved most effective. Each net is frozen, burned and stress-tested before use. The system now intercepts 95% of incoming drones. 6/
Prokudin now briefs Sweden, Germany, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania. “We are the future for other frontline cities,” he said.
His 2026 budget is $46M — the smallest in Ukraine. He puts 43% of it into nets and fortifications. 7/
His 2026 budget is $46M — the smallest in Ukraine. He puts 43% of it into nets and fortifications. 7/
One number every European defence minister needs: an FPV drone costs $400 and destroys a $3M vehicle.
Drones account for 80% of Russian battlefield deaths. Moscow lost 35,000 soldiers in December alone — 156 lives per kilometre seized in Donetsk. 8/
Drones account for 80% of Russian battlefield deaths. Moscow lost 35,000 soldiers in December alone — 156 lives per kilometre seized in Donetsk. 8/
Tyshchenko rotated out after 471 days. The fog came thick enough and the window lasted hours. You wait for the right weather, move fast, and hope the drone operator is blind that morning. That is how war works now. 9X
Source: ig.ft.com/ukraine-kill-z…
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