Until just over a week ago, Artyom Kariakin and his unit were regularly crossing the Ukrainian border into the Russian town of Suja. He showed me a cellphone video of their last operation, when Ukrainian forces were retreating from Russia’s Kursk region. The video showed them passing dozens of burned-out military and civilian vehicles, illustrating the intensity of the recent engagements.
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03-24, 2025A soldier with a shotgun, acting as their last line of defense, scanned the horizon for Russian drones. Suddenly, a drone flew towards the back of their truck. Sparks flew, but they kept moving. Artyom said they were lucky that the explosives were not powerful enough to stop them, highlighting the ever-present danger of drone warfare.
Another truck nearby was not so fortunate, having already burst into flames. Artyom admitted that the Ukrainian retreat from Suja, the largest town controlled by Ukraine in Kursk, was “poorly organized.” He told me: “It was very chaotic, and many units retreated in disarray. I think the problem was that the order to retreat came too late,” suggesting a breakdown in command and control.
He said that to make matters worse, the units were operating without proper communications. The Starlink satellite system they usually relied on did not work inside Russia. The 27-year-old soldier still believes the Kursk offensive was overall a success. Artyom said it forced Russia to move troops away from the east. Most of the Ukrainian troops still managed to escape in time, even if it meant fleeing on foot for many, showcasing their resilience under pressure.
But he believes that Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russian territory last August was too deep and narrow, relying only on one main road for supplies and reinforcements. As Artyom and his men were fleeing for their lives, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were on the phone, trying to end the war. Artyom said he found this “absurd,” underscoring the disconnect between high-level diplomacy and the realities on the ground.
He said: “For me, these calls between Trump and Putin are simply surreal. Trump wants to end the war because he promised to do so, and Putin wants to deceive Trump to continue his war. I can’t take their conversations seriously.” Artyom, whose home is in the now Russian-occupied Luhansk region, told me he was disappointed in the U.S. and Trump. “What can I feel when they just want to give up my home?” he asked, revealing the personal cost of geopolitical decisions.
Artyom said he never believed Putin would be willing to trade any part of Russia for occupied Ukrainian territory. But he still believes the Kursk offensive was very important for protecting their own borders. Ukrainian forces may have been forced to retreat, but they still hold the high ground on the Sumy border. Ukraine is continuing to conduct cross-border raids, not just into Kursk, but also Belgorod, signaling their intent to keep the pressure on Russia.
Sergey’s assault battalion helps plan these raids, finding ways through Russian minefields and anti-tank obstacles known as “dragon’s teeth.” We joined him on one of his nightly missions to locate and recover armored vehicles in need of repair. This was the safest time to be close to the Russian border, offering a glimpse into the logistical challenges of the conflict.
Sergey himself is no stranger to Russia: he was born there. He now holds Belarusian citizenship, but he has chosen to fight for Ukraine. He defends Ukraine’s incursions into his former homeland. He said Russia is also trying to create a buffer zone inside Ukraine. Sitting in his own-made Ukrainian armored vehicle, Sergey still listed the possible threats, now less than 10 kilometers from the Russian border: glide bombs, rockets, and artillery, as well as drones with thermal imaging cameras, highlighting the complex and multi-faceted nature of the threats they face.
His own vehicle is fitted with electronic countermeasures to jam enemy drones, but even these cannot counter drones operated via fiber optic cables. These are impossible to stop, although on some routes, Ukraine has now erected nets in an attempt to catch drones before they hit their targets. Our initial operation to find a damaged U.S.-made Bradley armored vehicle near the Russian border was abandoned after Sergey received intelligence that Russian drones were operating nearby. Instead, he tried to find another damaged Bradley where the risks would be lower, underscoring the constant need to adapt to changing circumstances.
He and his driver still had to overcome obstacles along the way. Trees and branches littered their path, the wreckage of recent Russian airstrikes. We saw more explosions in the distance, briefly turning the night sky orange. Sergey finally found his damaged Bradley. It had already been recovered from the battlefield across the border and was being loaded onto a truck to be transported back for repairs, showcasing the ongoing effort to maintain their equipment.
The Bradley commander confirmed to me that they had been operating inside Russia. He described the situation across the border as “difficult, but we are holding on.” The Bradley is yet another reminder of Ukraine’s reliance on U.S. military support. With Trump focusing on peace talks, that support now seems less certain. Sergey said he has clearly seen “bargaining going on behind Ukraine’s back,” reflecting a deep-seated concern about their future.
I asked Sergey if he thought European countries could fill any gap left by the U.S. Would a European “coalition of the willing” be enough to guarantee Ukraine’s security? Sergey replied: “I think if the U.S. doesn’t help Ukraine, then a ceasefire agreement will be reached very soon, but on extremely unfavorable terms for Ukraine. Europe clearly cannot resolve this conflict alone. They are not strong enough. They have been focused on their own economies, not on thinking about security,” indicating a skepticism about Europe's capacity to fully replace US support.
Sergey said he wants the war to end. Like many Ukrainians, he wants to see peace, but not at any cost, highlighting the complex and nuanced desire for peace within the country.
