UKRAINE, KHARKIV REGION, Mar. 3 — Russia pulled its heavy equipment back from the zero line north of Kharkiv but is increasing the usage of various drones, said the Porokh (gunpowder from Ukrainian — ed.), a deputy commander in one of the companies of Khartia battalion told Army TV.   

North of Kharkiv, Russian troops are attempting to gain ground at several points along the state border. Over the last month, according to Ukraine’s military, they have managed to increase the ‘grey zone’ near Vovchansk. 

“We haven’t seen heavy equipment units for a long time, especially armored ones,” Porokh said, adding that, mostly, Ukraine’s defence forces hit such equipment as soon as it’s spotted at Russian territory, beyond the border. 

The Russian army is betting on mass application of drones against both Ukraine’s soldiers and civilians. 

“We have every kind of drone here,” Porokh said. He claimed Ukraine owns the sky in this direction, but Russia keeps trying to retake the initiative there. “We know they’re using fiber-optic drones with a longer cord, and these drones have been spotted at Kharkiv outskirts.” 

On Feb. 25, Russia hit Kharkiv with a fiber-optic drone for the first time since the full-scale war. 

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