RFE/RL photographer Serhiy Nuzhnenko ventured to the front lines near the southern port city of Kherson as an artillery unit pummeled Russian forces.
Ukrainian Artillery Unit Pounds Russian Forces Despite Ammunition Shortages
Ukrainian soldiers from the 126th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade fire a D-30 howitzer toward Russian positions near the southern city of Kherson on March 12.
Despite artillery and equipment shortages, Kyiv's troops are continuing their battle to slow the Russian advance along a nearly 1,200 kilometer front.
Soldiers work quickly to unload the base of a shell after a salvo is fired.
RFE/RL photographer Serhiy Nuzhnenko is one of the few journalists granted access to the fighting along the front line.
A soldier enjoys a cigarette near the unit's dugout.
A soldier shows off his tattoos while resting in his dugout.
A Ukrainian soldier carries shells to an awaiting howitzer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed in an interview on March 11 that Russian advances had been "halted." Battlefield claims cannot be independently verified.
Zelenskiy's comments come as his country embarks on a building spree of nearly 1,000 kilometers of defenses, including minefields, dragon's teeth, bunkers, trenches, and "hedgehog" tank obstacles.
Kyiv has cautioned its allies that the halting of Russian forces will be increasingly difficult if its armed forces are not sufficiently resupplied.
Another salvo is fired toward Russian positions.
On March 12, U.S. officials announced $300 million for a new weapons package that includes anti-aircraft missiles, 155 mm artillery rounds, longer-range ammunition for HIMARS systems, and cluster munitions.