Key facts
- Ukrainian soldier Serhii Krynitskyi spent nearly a year in a foxhole on the front lines near Chasiv Yar.
- Drone warfare has led to small, isolated units operating in a 30 km wide 'kill zone'.
- Krynitskyi documented his experiences through video diaries, often scavenging from fallen enemy soldiers.
- He reported killing 23 enemy soldiers and received the Hero of Ukraine medal.
- The soldier described the severe mental toll of prolonged exposure to combat.
Serhii Krynitskyi, a 42-year-old Ukrainian soldier, has detailed his harrowing experience of surviving nearly a year in a foxhole on the front lines near Chasiv Yar, eastern Ukraine. His account, documented through cellphone video diaries, highlights the profound impact of drone warfare on modern combat.
Krynitskyi and his comrades were forced into small, isolated dugouts, often just 3 by 4 meters, across a 30 km wide 'kill zone' due to the constant threat from unmanned aerial vehicles. This new battlefield dynamic prevents the massing of troops and artillery, leading to small teams taking significant risks for minimal territorial gains and enduring months-long deployments.
During his deployment from April 2025 to March 2026, Krynitskyi endured intense close-quarters combat, reporting 23 enemy kills. He described scavenging for food and supplies from fallen Russian soldiers and collecting their weapons as trophies. His video diaries, powered by batteries from downed drones, captured the grim realities of life in the cramped redoubt, including the loss of two comrades, one of whom died from shrapnel from a drone-dropped bomb and another in a direct drone attack.
Krynitskyi was not a career soldier, having previously worked in farming and construction before being drafted. He was assigned to the 24th Mechanised Brigade and sent to the eastern front. He recounted the challenges of fighting not only the enemy but also the elements and the psychological strain of prolonged exposure to violence.
On March 11, Krynitskyi's remaining comrade was critically injured by a drone attack. Despite Krynitskyi's efforts to save him with a tourniquet, the soldier died. Krynitskyi was then ordered to abandon the position as Russian forces advanced. He eventually made a perilous 25 km march to safety.
For his bravery, Krynitskyi was presented with the Hero of Ukraine medal by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in May. He has spoken about the significant mental toll of his experience, noting that many soldiers struggle with the psychological impact of such prolonged and intense combat.