We want peace, but not at any price! The Ukrainian army is losing one of its important advantages on the front against R

Ukraine is gradually losing one of its few advantages on the front line. Until recently, Ukrainian drone operators could effectively destroy enemy vehicles, but the situation has changed, writes The Telegraph.

For example, a fighter with the call sign "Darwin" recently set a personal record by hitting nine Russian combat vehicles in one day. However, Russia has significantly improved its electronic warfare capabilities, which makes it difficult to use drones. "Darwin" claims that it now needs to use significantly more drones for a successful attack. This is affecting the effectiveness of the defenses along the front line, especially near Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region.

This strategically important city, liberated in the fall of 2022, is now under constant shelling. The front line is only a few kilometers away and Russian troops are gradually advancing. According to Konstantin Tarasov, deputy chief of police in the region, more than 97% of the local population has been evacuated, but 2,000 people remain, putting themselves in danger.

"Our people are dying. The intensity of the shelling is only increasing", Tarasov said.

Ukraine is losing its advantage

On the outskirts of Kupyansk, the brothers of "Darwin" from the "Achilles" battalion The 92nd Airborne Assault Brigade is desperately trying to hold the line with other units. In November, they managed to push back Russian forces after capturing the northeastern outskirts of the region.

But the fight has become much more difficult as the Russians have increased their ability to jam the reconnaissance and attack drones that are such a vital component of the battalion's operations.

“We can still attack, but it's a lot harder than it used to be,“ says “Darwin”, a 21-year veteran who has flown 5,000 drone flights during the war.

“But now you need 100 drones with 100 payloads to swarm in the sky and overcome obstacles. As a result, the success rate has fallen.“

Skepticism about the war

Amid the Russian offensive, US support for Ukraine may become conditional. Donald Trump, who has returned to the political scene, has said he is ready to limit aid to Kiev to end the war, even on terms that are unfavorable to Ukraine.

Trump wants to bring Putin to the negotiating table. Sensing that the arrows of history may be shifting in his direction, the Russian president said hours before Trump was inaugurated that he was “open to dialogue” on Ukraine.

On the threshold of an uncertain new era, with U.S. support at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may find it difficult to convince Trump that Ukraine can still prevail militarily.

While Ukrainians debate the possibility of negotiations, many do not believe in a just peace. One resident of Kupyansk notes: "Of course it is time to talk. How many of our soldiers died? How many buildings were destroyed, how much territory was lost? The talks should be between Zelensky and Putin, not with Trump. We do not want to become silent observers in deciding our fate.".

Despite the difficulties, residents of frontline towns such as Konstantinovka and Pokrovsk are calling for the fight to continue. Valentina, a pensioner from the frontline region, says: "We are currently on the border with Russia: "We want peace, but not at any price. Giving up the land is too high a price".