Soldiers have to plan out every step just to reach Ukraine's deadly 'zero line.' A sergeant said it's like 'Mission Impossible.'
Ukrainian soldiers heading to the perilous part of the front nearest Russian soldiers need to coordinate their movements carefully.
Getting to Ukraine's deadly "zero line" for soldiers is a perilous task filled with dangers and requires meticulous planning. Sergeant Yankee, speaking to Business Insider in Poland, likened the experience to "Mission Impossible" due to the intense and dangerous nature of the mission. The zero line is the portion of the front line nearest to Russian forces, where Ukrainian troops are closest to their adversaries.
Every step taken towards this line needs to be carefully coordinated to prevent any unintentional friendly-fire deaths and to ensure the safety of the maneuvering soldiers. The zero line is fraught with danger, as the skies are filled with Russian drones for surveillance and attacks, and hostile troops are close by, conducting infiltration missions.
Yankee's unit provides air defense to infantry soldiers stationed at the zero line, using MANPADS, or man-portable air-defense systems, to intercept enemy drones, missiles, and low-flying aircraft. The "kill zone" surrounding the zero line stretches up to 50 kilometers in some areas and is so dangerous that soldiers can lose days to simply traverse it.
Ukrainian officials describe the kill zone as a "death zone" due to the constant bombardment by drones. Oleksiy Vyskub, Ukraine's first deputy defense minister, mentioned that the kill zone could double in size this year, making it increasingly difficult for soldiers to reach their front-line positions. This situation highlights the necessity of coordination not only within the unit but also with nearby units, as drone operators must negotiate safe passage for their drones and maintain communication with friendly forces to avoid accidentally downing or jamming them.
The fighting in Ukraine is characterized by heavy artillery and swarms of drones, making any movement a potential threat. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian military officials are working on improving battlefield coordination through their new Delta online battlefield management system, which offers a comprehensive view of the battlefield and ensures that all units are aligned and aware of each other's actions.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
