No Clear Front Line—Replaced by a Multi-Kilometer ‘Gray Zone’

Fighters from the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade say that enemy drones are now inflicting greater losses during logistics operations than at the “zero line” (front line).

On some sectors, the enemy is preparing for assault operations. Intelligence reports, along with observable troop movements, indicate a steady buildup of personnel and equipment. After four years of war, the battlefield has changed dramatically. It is not only that tree lines have become thinner and more exposed—the “birds” flying above them have changed as well.

The enemy is striving to dominate the sky using “Orlan,” “Zala,” “Supercam,” and “Molniya” UAVs, along with FPV drones and “Shaheds.” The list is long. But the defining factor is not their variety—it is their sheer numbers.

On the way to the unit’s position

THROUGH THE SPRING MUD WITH “SCHUMACHER” BEHIND THE WHEEL

Ukrinform journalists visited one of the 141st Brigade’s units. Reaching the troops has become a task of heightened difficulty—at times, a genuine survival challenge.

The rain-soaked field ahead of us had already been churned up by heavy vehicles—likely a Ural truck or similar equipment. We had to drop into the deep, muddy ruts and maintain speed, all while avoiding slipping out or overturning. There would be no one to pull us out if we did.

At one point, it felt as though the person behind the wheel was not the brigade’s press officer, but Schumacher himself. After the remark, “It’s not that I’m nervous, but if you don’t mind, I’ll have a cigarette,” the tension briefly broke into laughter.

Still, the strain was real—my muscles tightened from the stress, and the relentless jolting made even my morning coffee feel like a poor decision.

Roman “Cowboy”

After about an hour, we reached the location—what is referred to as the Novopavlivka direction. We were met by a familiar figure: Roman Zhuchok, callsign “Cowboy,” commander of the self-propelled artillery battalion within the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade. Within minutes, his comrades joined us.

Roman says the brigade is currently engaged in defensive operations in this sector.

“Our area of responsibility has been expanded. We’re holding the line. Closer to Huliaipole, our assault units are advancing—liberating settlements and partially restoring previously lost positions. But in our sector, we are preparing for defense. The enemy is planning offensive actions here. We’ve observed active reconnaissance of our positions, including reconnaissance-in-force. Their activity has increased, particularly the number of small infantry groups attempting to advance and penetrate our defenses. Mechanized assaults have also begun,” he says.

He adds that drone activity remains the most intense threat.

“It’s no secret that drones account for the highest level of enemy activity. In our area of responsibility alone, we record around 60 FPV drones and 40 to 50 ‘Molniya’ UAVs every day.

“The enemy is trying to disrupt our logistics while preparing for further offensive operations. When they are forced onto the defensive, they have to commit reserves and cannot sustain momentum. Here, however, they are building up forces and preparing to attack,” Roman explains.

Despite this, the commander believes an offensive will not come easily for Russian forces.

THE FRONT LINE IS FADING

Soldiers say the Russian UAV unit “Rubikon”—highly trained and well-prepared—is steadily expanding its presence.

“Because of weather conditions, drone flight ranges have increased, along with the number of drones in the air. Logistics have become more difficult for both sides—rotating personnel, evacuations, and delivering ammunition. Previously, only infantry moved to positions on foot; now Mavic operators, as well as heavy bomber and FPV crews, do the same. Kill zones are constantly expanding.

“We are moving toward a reality where the concept of a ‘front line’ disappears. Instead, there will be a ‘gray zone’ roughly 20 kilometers deep, with our units and enemy forces dispersed chaotically. To be frank, losses during logistics operations are now several times higher than at the front line or the ‘zero line.’ This is largely due to the presence of the ‘Rubikon’ unit here,” Roman says.

We witnessed the scale of drone activity firsthand. On the way to one of the positions, an enemy “Molniya” UAV passed overhead—quietly and without warning. Moments later, we heard the impact—an explosion. The soldiers told us we were lucky: most likely, there had been no reconnaissance drone above us, and we simply hadn’t been detected.

“Deputy”

“There are so many drones—it’s like trains in the Kyiv metro, every ten minutes,” jokes a fighter with the callsign “Deputy.”

The enemy has adapted to deploying FPV drones using larger platforms. “Zala” UAVs and even “Shaheds” are used as carriers—each capable of transporting multiple FPVs.

A vehicle destroyed by an enemy drone

“Deputy” is responsible for logistics. His duties include rotating crews, delivering ammunition, and preparing deployments for combat missions. He says that he and “Cowboy” make a point of traveling to positions together with drivers.

“It’s important to see the situation on the ground with your own eyes—so you can react quickly to changes and plan operations properly,” he explains.

“We operate 155 mm systems, and you can’t move much ammunition in a pickup, so we rely on ‘Ural’ and ‘KamAZ’ trucks. With proper planning, even heavy vehicles can get through,” he adds.

Preparing for a combat mission

At times, units have been unable to reach certain positions for days—sometimes up to a week—forced to wait for a window to move.

“There are more and more drones. The enemy has a clear objective—to develop this direction. If we plan carefully, analyze where we fell short, understand our mistakes, and consider what could have been done faster, safer, and more effectively, then we’ll achieve results,” he says.

He then shifts to a more difficult subject. Not long ago, the brigade lost a comrade—a young fighter with the callsign “Obama,” killed in an FPV drone strike. For the unit, the loss was deeply felt. Worse still, the enemy did everything they coud to prevent the recovery of his body.

“One of the roads was under enemy control—more than ten drones were hovering over it. Not bringing our fallen comrade back was never an option; it wasn’t even a question. We took another route—difficult, but we made it through and recovered him. It was a full-scale operation, but I won’t go into details. It’s all very hard,” says “Deputy.”

In moments like these, the brigade’s motto—“One for all and all for one”—takes on real meaning. It is not just a phrase, but something proven in action.

“Deputy” recalls another instance: from 5:40 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., they were unable to move out to evacuate the wounded due to drone activity. Three weeks earlier, he and commander Roman Zhuchok had guided drone crews to their positions on foot—covering 15 kilometers one way.

“When we got out, FPVs were already overhead. We waited, then kept moving. But trying to hide in a tree line with barely five trees, while drones circle above you, looking to kill—it’s far from comfortable. We walked for five hours, stopping along the way. Then the same distance back,” he says.

He recalls that the first time he had to leave positions on foot, he came to a stark conclusion:

“The one who’s luckier is the one who survives.”

“Luck is the reality of war, no matter how it sounds,” he adds with a faint smile.

RECORD: 554 SHOTS IN 34 DAYS

As we speak, drone operators are checking the readiness of their “birds” for combat missions. There is no shortage of work: enemy forces must be detected and destroyed. They operate around the clock, as Russian troops probe defensive lines, attempt counterattacks, and prepare for further offensives.

“Kazhan”

Among the soldiers is a fighter jokingly referred to as “special forces”—callsign “Kazhan” (“Bat”). He commands the 2nd Platoon within the 2nd Self-Propelled Artillery Battery and brings extensive combat experience.

His service dates back to the start of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), immediately after completing mandatory military service. He served in reconnaissance, commanded a sabotage and reconnaissance group (SRG), worked as an instructor, completed survival training, and performed a wide range of combat roles.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, he was in the Czech Republic with his family. They had jobs and planned to stay—but chose to return.

“I went straight to the enlistment office. At first, they wouldn’t take me—they said there were no positions, not even for an instructor. But eventually they did. I served in different sectors: Sievierodonetsk first. We broke out of encirclement twice. The second time, we were moving for two days under ‘Grad’ MLRS fire. Later came Kherson operation, followed by Bakhmut. We carried out missions, operated behind enemy lines. As for artillery—I didn’t understand anything at first. I had to learn from scratch, read a lot,” he says.

“Kazhan” has been wounded four times. In his assessment, the battlefield today is significantly more difficult than it was just a few years ago.

“Why is it harder? Because of drones. The assault on Kherson was easier—there were no FPVs, and far fewer reconnaissance UAVs. Yes, they used ‘Grad,’ ‘Uragan,’ and ‘Smerch’ systems, but now those are used less frequently.

“Just a few days ago, I was delivering a crew to a position. They were supposed to dismount and continue on foot. Two ‘waiting’ drones were hovering over the road—one struck us. We managed to take cover, but they kept targeting us until morning, destroying our equipment. The enemy isn’t foolish—if anything, they may even be more adaptive. At night, we’re almost blind—you can’t see fiber-optic lines. So all we have to rely on is electronic warfare and God’s help,” he says.

He adds that during survival courses he took back in the ATO/JFO period, he was taught that camouflage is paramount in war.

“It’s not enough just to dig in—you have to know how to conceal yourself. Without proper camouflage, your position will be destroyed. Those survival courses taught us exactly what we needed. They taught us how to stay alive,” he says with a faint smile.

“Is there still a role for artillery in modern warfare?” I ask.

“Artillery is what stops assaults. There’s plenty of work to be done,” the soldiers reply.

The unit operates the M-114 field howitzer. According to “Deputy,” its first mission was to destroy an enemy dugout—completed with just a few rounds.

“From the moment the enemy detected our gun and began targeting it, 34 days passed. In that time, the howitzer fired 554 rounds—the highest rate recorded for an M-114. Then about 25 FPVs and ‘Molniya’ drones hit. Shrapnel damaged a wheel, but we managed to evacuate the gun,” he says.

The soldiers emphasize that modern warfare demands analytical thinking as much as firepower.

“You can calculate how enemy drone operators work—when they’re active, which routes they use. Everything has to be analyzed. Logistics must be planned precisely. Otherwise, there will be no results,” they say.

Olha Zvonariova, Zaporizhzhia

Photos: Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform

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