EXCLUSIVE: LIVE from Ukraine: Front Line Reporter Francis Farrell w/Lt Col Daniel Davis

Jun 12, 2025

Francis Farrell, a frontline journalist from the Kyiv Independent, shares gripping insights from his reporting in Ukraine. He discusses the brutal realities of infantry operations, the impact of drone warfare, and the logistic nightmares faced by troops. The conversation reveals how artillery's role has diminished with the rise of drones, which now cause the majority of injuries. Farrell also highlights the challenges of mobilization, press freedom in wartime, and the complexities surrounding governance and negotiations amid ongoing conflict.

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INSIGHT

Elections Suspended During Wartime

Ukraine cannot hold elections under martial law during existential threats like the current war.
Ukrainians prioritize national survival over elections while the conflict persists.

INSIGHT

Public Views Shift Toward Realism

Ukrainians have become realistic about reclaiming all territory and prioritize survival over total victory.
Attempts for quick peace deals falter due to Russia's ongoing aggression and unwillingness to stop.

INSIGHT

Minsk Agreements Were Doomed

Minsk agreements were doomed from the start as Russia denied involvement and never complied.
Agreements signed under duress held no real chance for peace without Russia withdrawing forces first.

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In the current phase of the Ukraine-Russia war, infantry operations are extremely grueling and deadly—especially for Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian troops often hike long distances to reach frontline positions, choosing dawn, dusk, or bad weather to reduce exposure, but even then the journey and logistics like casualty evacuation are highly dangerous.

On the Russian side, they continue launching mass assaults using "expendable" infantry, often on motorbikes, but suffer high losses. Ukrainian drone teams and artillery often eliminate entire Russian assault units before they reach the "zero line." However, if Russian forces do reach entrenched positions, it becomes hard for Ukraine to dislodge them due to thinly spread infantry.

There’s a tactical and technological arms race between both sides: Ukraine often innovates, but Russia quickly copies and scales new tactics. One example is fiber-optic drones, where Russia had the early advantage.

Regarding artillery, its primacy has declined, replaced in large part by drone warfare, especially FPV (First-Person View) strike drones. Artillery still plays a role—especially in difficult terrain—but drones now cause the majority of frontline wounds. For example, recent field hospitals report that 90% of injuries come from drones rather than artillery, a reversal from even a year ago.

Manpower is Ukraine’s biggest strategic weakness. Russia has a much larger population and a seemingly endless supply of infantry. Ukraine, however, struggles to replenish combat-effective troops, especially infantry. Ukrainian infantry now spend weeks in exposed frontline positions because even the trip back is too dangerous. These conditions are more miserable than World War I trench warfare, with even bathroom breaks proving deadly due to drone surveillance.

Meanwhile, Russian forces, though still taking heavy casualties, have more numerical flexibility and increasingly use sacrificial assault tactics. Ukrainian infantry, in contrast, are often stuck holding increasingly thin lines, with no realistic rotation or relief. The saturation of drones and the infantry imbalance together define the brutal current state of the war.

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