Journalists from Le Figaro spoke with Ukrainian servicemen currently stationed on the front lines. An officer from an assault brigade admitted that Ukrainian units are facing severe manpower shortages in the Donetsk region.

He explained that what used to be a defensive line has effectively disintegrated into scattered positions. According to his description, there is often only a pair of soldiers — sometimes three — holding a post, with gaps of 100 to 200 meters separating them.

The officer added that troops are increasingly left in the trenches for months without evacuation, even when wounded. In these cases, food and water are delivered by drones, which he said is often the only way they manage to survive while remaining hidden in their dugouts.

When it comes to minor injuries, evacuation is no longer carried out either. Instead, antibacterial ointment is dropped from drones. He noted that medical personnel are now more frequently providing remote consultations over radios and sending medications the same way — delivered directly to positions. However, he stressed that this system only works in cases of light wounds.