Drone-filled Ukrainian front makes trench rotations deadly, prompting new Western training tactics
Ukrainian soldiers are suffering heavy losses just moving in and out of their own trenches, leading a Norway-led training program to focus on safer trench navigation.
A Norway-led multinational task force training Ukrainian troops reports that the static front line and relentless drone activity turn trench ingress and egress into a lethal task. Brigadier Atle Molde explained that soldiers often incur injuries or death while rotating through their own trench systems. At Camp Jomsborg, a purpose-built site in eastern Poland, the curriculum emphasizes suppressive fire and trench layouts modeled on Ukrainian experience.
Instructors, including a Norwegian platoon leader known only as Jørgen, note that many trainees already possess high combat expertise and have devised effective movement tactics. The training seeks to lower casualty rates during resupply, relocation, and rotation, ultimately helping Ukraine sustain its forces until a favorable ceasefire can be reached.
Why it matters
Understanding the dangers of trench movement highlights the evolving nature of modern warfare and the need for specialized training.
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