Popular Front The Grim New Realities of the Ukraine Frontlines
Dec 3, 2025
Conal Kearney, a journalist and documentary filmmaker known for his gritty frontline reporting from Ukraine, shares his harrowing experiences. He discusses the grim realities of drone warfare reshaping combat dynamics. Kearney highlights Russia's advancements due to strategic attrition and urban infiltration tactics, including the use of sewage tunnels. He reveals the psychological toll on troops and their desire for practical support over political debates. Kearney also details his own recovery journey after a serious injury while covering the conflict.
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Drones Reshape The Frontline
- Drone warfare now dominates the battlefield and changes everything for soldiers and journalists.
- Russia uses mass drone attacks to pin Ukrainian forces and exploit stretched rotations and resources.
Mixed Tactics Drive Russian Advances
- Russian gains come from both grinding attrition and sudden storm-like assaults exploiting weather and tunnels.
- Sewers and subterranean routes enabled Russian sabotage groups to seize city centers like Kopyansk.
Nets And Endless Buzzing
- Frontline positions are under near-constant drone surveillance and attack, making movement highly risky.
- Troops hang nets and other crude countermeasures, but Russians adapt by sacrificing one drone to clear obstacles.