War in Ukraine

Under the sound of incoming drones and missile strikes, a small farm in Ukraine’s Kherson region continues to operate. They are feeding the country, whilst living on the frontline of Russia’s war.

Arash Darbandi, a 34-year-old photographer from Ahvaz in southern Iran, came to Russia in search of work and never imagined he would become part of a war. In an interview with UNITED24 Media, he describes how an ordinary attempt to earn a living spiraled into coercion, detention, and ultimately forced conscription into the Russian army.

For years, Russian authorities have insisted that sanctions have failed to seriously affect key sectors of the economy and the defense industry. However, internal documents from Russian state institutions obtained by United24 Media reveal a very different reality: Russia is gradually losing the ability to safely operate and maintain its most important aircraft, including those used to transport the country’s top leadership.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s global image has undergone a profound transformation—from a victim of war to a frontline defender of freedom. This shift is, to a large extent, the result of Ukrainian diplomacy, which has successfully rallied democratic countries into a steadfast alliance.

“Everyone has the right to a dignified life,” says Dr. Valerii Viun, Head of the Forensic Department. “But everyone also has the right to a dignified death.”

The Kremlin has claimed it gained full control over the city of Kupiansk so many times, it almost seems to believe it. In reality, Ukraine’s Armed Forces have carried out a series of successful counterattacks, pushing Russian troops back.