In the ruins of a building that has seen better days, a Russian-made Kord 12.7 heavy machine gun dominates a narrow, exposed position. The post sits just over a mile from an observation point held by Russian troops, near Kupayansk in Kharkiv province. What stands out at first glance is the lack of formidable fortifications—no strong walls to speak of, just an open, vulnerable stretch of ground. A visible hole at one end, surrounded by graffiti, hints at the intensity of the shelling and the danger faced by those nearby. The graffiti includes language borrowed from classic literature and reads phrases such as “Shave your dick,” a stark reminder of the blend of art and aggression that sometimes marks warfare.
