- Near Donetsk front line, Ukraine artillery crew face intensifying fire

Soldiers in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, near the front line, have reported an increase in Russian artillery activity in recent weeks. However, they noted that the current levels are still lower than the peak seen a year ago. Vitaliy, a 22-year-old artilleryman, mentioned that he noticed the increase after returning from leave last month. He stated that the escalation became more widespread about a month ago. The exact location and brigade of these soldiers were not disclosed due to the recent intense fighting in their area. All three crew members operating the Hiatsynt howitzer confirmed that they had observed the increase in Russian artillery activity. Despite this, Ukrainian soldiers in different parts of the front have reported a significant decrease in Russian artillery shelling compared to a year ago. The crew’s commander, Oleksandr, expressed uncertainty about the source of the additional shells, pointing to recent craters near their position. The South Korean intelligence service claimed that North Korea has supplied over a million shells to Russia since August, although both Moscow and Pyongyang deny these allegations. Vitaliy acknowledged that if the reports are true, they have certainly felt the impact of the increased supply. Despite the heightened artillery activity, there has been minimal movement in the front lines, with both sides remaining in their positions. The war has become more static, with no significant advancements from either side.