Footage recorded on a cell phone attached to the front of a Ukrainian Soldier's vest captures an engagement between the 2nd Assault Battalion and Russian forces near Bakhmut.

There's nothing spectacular or outstanding about this video. We're looking at fairly run-of-the-mill trench warfare combat footage coming out of Bakhmut. While this may seem like an action-packed piece of combat footage showcasing Ukrainians and Russians dead-locked in a battle for life and death, the reality of the situation states that this is literally just Tuesday for these guys. You can tell from the Soldier's movements and communications with other troops in the area that this is not the first time probably even in the day that this was recorded that they were engaged in this fashion by Russian forces.

Trench warfare is nothing new. Troops in the field have been conducting these operations since the 17th century. It's a brutal slog that occurs when technology outpaces warfighting doctrine. We saw it during the American Civil War when it was placed in defensive warfighting doctrine. We saw it again during World War 1 when machine guns changed the face of battle forever. We're seeing it today in Ukraine because drones and precision artillery are once again forcing the world's warfighting colleges to revisit how wars are fought.

Eventually, one side or the other will crack the code and once they do, they'll find the real crack that breaks the enemy's trenches without requiring human wave attacks. If I had to place a bet, I'd bet on the Ukrainians cracking that code first since they're thriving in this conflict with a westernized warfighting paradigm and proving to be the more adaptable fighting force.

About the Author

Josh Brooks

Josh is an American writer and former USMC machine gunner with eight years of experience in ground combat arms throughout the GWOT. He is currently based in Texas and specializes in combat footage analysis and digital marketing.Follow Josh at OfficialJoshBrooks.com