Game of drones on Ukraine's tense northern border

(3 Feb 2023)
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Near Belarus border, Ukraine - 1 February 2023
HEADLINE TEXT: Game of drones on Ukraine’s tense northern border
1. Wide of Ukrainian soldier flying drone
2. Mid of soldier manipulating controls
3. Close of fingers on controls
ANNOTATION: Ukrainian soldiers fly drones to monitor the border with Belarus, looking for significant military movement.
4. Wide of trench with soldier in frame
5. Mid of soldier
ANNOTATION: Troops here fear Russia is readying another strike from Belarusian soil, just as it did a year ago when they tried to seize Kyiv
6. Various of troops in trenches
ANNOTATION: Concerns grew in January after the two countries held joint air force drills, following a rare visit to Minsk by President Vladimir Putin
7. Wide of soldier in trench
8. Wide of drone in air, then landing in hand of soldier
ANNOTATION: So the Ukrainians are on alert. But so is their enemy. The result is a daily aerial duel, drone against drone
9. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Oleksandr, Ukrainian Army Intelligence:
“We use drones to constantly have information about what the enemy is doing. We continuously monitor the enemy from the ground and observe troop movements: if they are moving, how many troops and where they’re going. And the enemy’s also monitoring our activity. The enemy is constantly monitoring our guard change, trying to find our positions and strongpoints”
10. Wide of soldier standing by heavy machine-gun
11. Close of bullets in ammunition belt
ANNOTATION: Military experts and Western intelligence say a repeat thrust from the north is unlikely, but Ukraine is taking no chances
12. Various of trench system
ANNOTATION: It’s beefed up its defenses, with expanded trench networks and minefields in the forests along the border
13. Various of soldiers in trench system
ANNOTATION: So far troops report no significant build-up against them

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ripki, Chernihiv region, Ukraine - 1 February 2023
14. Wide of village resident Matveva Valentina walking on road
ANNOTATION: But that doesn’t reassure civilians like Matveva Valentina. She lived through last year’s Russian occupation. She’s terrified they’ll return
15. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Matveva Valentina, Villager:
“We’re in constant fear. We’re listening out for every small sound and noise. This isn’t a way to live. When you’re in constant fear, that’s not a life”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Koluchivka, Chernihiv region, Ukraine - 1 February 2023
16. Resident speaking to a man
17. Wide of street as light fades
ANNOTATION: Other say they have faith their army is prepared and will repel the invaders, if the time comes.
STORYLINE:
Reconnaissance drones are flown several times a day from Ukrainian positions deep within forest that stretches across the border with neighboring Belarus, scouring sky and land for signs of enemy movement.

Ukrainian units gather intelligence across the 1,000 kilometres (650 miles) long frontier of marshes and woodlands in anticipation of a possible surprise offensive from the north, a repeat of the unsuccessful Russian invasion which targeted Kyiv at the start of the war nearly one year ago.

The Ukrainians are taking no chances.

Since the summer, they have been reinforcing defenses, building and expanding trenches and laying mines in the forest to repel Russian invaders ahead of a springtime offensive predicted by Ukrainian military officials.


Military experts and Western intelligence have played down the possibility of a renewed offensive push from the north.