RFE/RL photographer Serhiy Nuzhnenko ventured to the front lines near Bakhmut, where a small, outgunned and outmanned Ukrainian unit is causing mayhem in an effort to stall advancing Russian forces.
Small, Nimble, Ukrainian Unit Harasses Advancing Russian Forces Near Bakhmut
A Ukrainian soldier from the 93rd Mechanized Brigade fires an AK-74 assault rifle at Russian positions near Bakhmut on March 6.
Despite artillery and equipment shortages, Kyiv's troops are fighting to slow advancing Russian troops along the almost 1,200-kilometer front.
RFE/RL photographer Serhiy Nuzhnenko traveled to the front line near Bakhmut, where he met up with a small unit tasked with destroying Russian positions.
With their ability to move quickly, thus making them harder to locate, small units such as this one can be especially lethal for entrenched Russian positions.
As they take up position, they must eye the sky for Russian drones that can attack at any moment.
With no drones on the periphery, a soldier works quickly to retrieve antiaircraft shells.
An antiaircraft gun fires onto Russian positions.
A soldier watches for Russian drones before moving positions.
The unit's antiaircraft gun is silhouetted against the night sky.
The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Oleksandr Pavlyuk, said in televised remarks on March 6 that the military is now focusing on stabilizing frontline positions and regrouping troops with a goal to “conduct counteroffensive operations this year."