Exhausted By War, Ukraine's Frontline Troops Seek 'Bit Of Rest'

After nearly two years of endless trench warfare, Ukraine's troops are on the brink of exhaustion. (Credit: AFP)

After spending another night on watch duty, a Ukrainian soldier near the country's northeastern front crashed out on a bunk inside his dugout, a cap resting over his closed eyes.

It is -8 degrees Celsius (18 Fahrenheit) outside, snow crunching underfoot as troops from the 41st Mechanised Brigade shuffle around their trenches, east of the town of Kupiansk.