Inside the defense of Ukraine’s Donbas fortress belt

The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Nick Allard embedded with Ukraine’s 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, also known as “Edelweiss,” which has held positions in the east for over three years. From long-range bomber drones to artillery units, the brigade is preparing for renewed Russian offensives toward the fortress belt in Donbas, as Moscow seeks to occupy the remainder of the region under Ukrainian control. As drone warfare reshapes the battlefield and infiltration groups push closer to key cities like Sloviansk, soldiers say the coming months could bring some of the most intense fighting yet. This report examines how the battle of Donbas is changing and why Ukraine’s eastern defenses remain crucial to stopping Russia’s advance. 00:00 Why Donbas matters 01:03 Support independent journalism in Ukraine 01:30 Russia’s push in Donbas 03:00 Edelweiss brigade origins 04:36 Night bomber drone mission 13:03 Artillery vs. drones 17:40 Why soldiers keep fighting 20:00 Drone warfare blurs front lines 22:26 Preparing for next battles Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine. Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membershi... Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.