TUESDAY May 24, 2022: 'KEEPING WATCH' by Award Winning ZUMA Press photographer Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi reporting from the frontlines in Ukraine. The soldier's intelligence unit, which monitors pro-Russian forces with the use of drones, has been stationed in the region since the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk broke away from Ukrainian control in 2014. Ukrainian forces have been holding the line in Donbas against Russian-backed separatists since the Kremlin seized Crimea. They're still holding the line, but what was sporadic fighting turned into a full-blown war. But now Russian and Ukrainian forces appear to be settling into a gruelling and deadly stalemate in Ukraine's east, amid warnings from a senior US military official that neither side can win in the present circumstances. Russia and Ukraine have made inflated claims about their successes, with assessments from western defense officials in recent weeks often painting a more subdued picture. Pentagon chief Lt Gen Scott Berrier, director of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, suggests neither side winning despite claim by Kyiv that its forces are pushing Russian troops back. Welcome to 'KEEPING WATCH'
© Reportage.com Story of the Week #840: TUESDAY May 24, 2022: 'KEEPING WATCH' by Award Winning ZUMA Press photographer Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi reporting from the frontlines in Ukraine. The soldier's intelligence unit, which monitors pro-Russian forces with the use of drones, has been stationed in the region since the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk broke away from Ukrainian control in 2014. Ukrainian forces have been holding the line in Donbas against Russian-backed separatists since the Kremlin seized Crimea. They're still holding the line, but what was sporadic fighting turned into a full-blown war. But now Russian and Ukrainian forces appear to be settling into a gruelling and deadly stalemate in Ukraine's east, amid warnings from a senior US military official that neither side can win in the present circumstances. Russia and Ukraine have made inflated claims about their successes, with assessments from western defense officials in recent weeks often painting a more subdued picture. Pentagon chief Lt Gen Scott Berrier, director of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, suggests neither side winning despite claim by Kyiv that its forces are pushing Russian troops back. Welcome to 'KEEPING WATCH'

A Ukrainian soldier hides in the grass with rifle at the ready, while on patrol in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, where Russia-backed separatists control territory. The soldier's intelligence unit, which monitors pro-Russian forces with the use of drones, has been stationed in the region since the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk broke away from Ukrainian control in 2014.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

A Ukrainian soldier from an intelligence hides in the grass during a patrol and monitoring operation on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Donbas), amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. The unit has been stationed in the region since the 2014 and monitors activities of Russian forces, fighting back on the ground and also with the use of drones.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

A Ukrainian soldier from an intelligence hides in the forest during a patrol and monitoring operation on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Donbas), amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. The unit has been stationed in the region since the 2014 Donbas war unveiled, with its Ukrainian soldiers monitoring activities of the Russian forces, fighting back Russian soldiers and identifying locations of Russian tanks and vehicles with the use of drones.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

With weapons raised, Ukrainian soldiers from an intelligence unit conduct a patrol and monitoring operation on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Donbas), amid Russian invasion of Ukraine.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

A Ukrainian soldier from an intelligence shoots the object with his pistol, on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Donbas), amid Russian invasion of Ukraine.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

Ukrainian soldiers from an intelligence conduct a patrol and monitoring operation on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Donbas), amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. The unit has been stationed in the region since the 2014 Donbas war unveiled, and monitors activities of the Russian forces in the area.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

A Ukrainian soldier from the intelligence division holds up a riffle as his unit conducts a patrol and monitoring operation on the outskirts of the separatist region of Donetsk.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

Ukrainian soldiers conduct a intelligence and monitoring operation on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. These forces monitor activities of Russian troops, sometimes engaging and fighting them while identifying locations of Russian tanks and vehicles with the use of drones.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

Ukrainian soldiers from an intelligence conduct a patrol and monitoring operation on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Donbas), amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. The unit has been stationed in the region since the 2014 Donbas war unveiled, with its Ukrainian soldiers monitoring activities of the Russian forces, fighting back Russian soldiers and identifying locations of Russian tanks and vehicles with the use of drones.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

Ukrainian soldiers from an intelligence unit hold up weapons as they conduct a patrol and monitoring operation on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Donbas), amid Russian invasion of Ukraine.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

Ukrainian soldiers from an intelligence walk through long grass while carrying their weapons during a patrol and monitoring operation on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Donbas).
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire

Two Ukrainian soldiers from an intelligence unit return to an unidentified base on the outskirt of the separatist region of Donetsk (Donbas), amid Russian invasion of Ukraine.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Press Wire