It’s the quiet moments that are most unnerving as we move through a war zone that feels like a relic from another century.

The town of Avdiivka borders the contested city of Donetsk which was captured by Russian separatists in 2014.

The hulking tower of the local chemical plant belches white plumes of smoke in the distance.

Follow live updates on the situation in Ukraine

This area has faced near constant tensions over the last eight years but the uptick in violence over recent days has left everyone worried.

So much so that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referenced the town in his address to world leaders at the Munich Security Conference earlier, telling delegates that bombs were falling.

Ghosts of the past

Ukraine crisis: Actors in Kharkiv vow to ‘carry on’ as Russia’s troops sit on the border

Ukraine crisis could be ‘prelude to bigger action’ from Russia, Boris Johnson warns

Ukraine crisis: Up to 50% of Russian troops near border are now in ‘attack positions,’ US official says

The weapons of the Ukrainian army defending the frontlines may seem modern, but their defensive network that zig-zags this industrial wasteland looks no different from the trenches that cut through the western front decades ago.

Thick mud clags boots. And with the prospects of an invasion growing, the Ukrainian soldiers are fighting not just for their country’s future but against the ghosts of the past haunting this eastern frontline.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Broken factories have become rat runs, a way of staying safe, moving between positions.

The incoming artillery is more intense than it has been for years – it’s an ominous sign in the face of faltering international diplomacy.

‘It’s an extreme situation’

Ukraine’s leadership has sought to downplay Western concerns over Russia launching a full-scale invasion of his country.

But the soldiers we spoke to here know they would be one of the first lines of defence if Vladimir Putin decides to start a war.

Senior Lieutenant Ivan takes me on a tour of the forward positions. I asked him whether his men are preparing for an escalation.

“It’s possible,” he tells me. “It’s an extreme situation and of course it’s normal to be worried about it.”

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

The soldiers can only look out with periscopes; their enemy is just a few hundred metres away.

And as the Kremlin continues to renegotiate Europe’s security through the barrel of a gun they know here that fighting with the Russian-backed separatists could break out at any moment.

What comes next in this grim conflict is still a guessing game. But the soldiers here, as they face another freezing day on the front, say they’re ready to defend their country and their freedom.

Related posts:

‘A man of great purpose and conviction’: World leaders pay tribute to Prince Philip Greek authorities offer £257k reward to catch killers who strangled British mother Fair dinkum – to be sure: Woman’s Australian accent goes Irish after tonsil operation Radovan Karadzic – leader convicted over Srebrenica genocide – to be transferred to UK prison Canadian businessman jailed for 11 years in China on spying charges Anticyclone ‘Lucifer’ and heat domes – why is the world battling extreme weather? Israel recaptures Palestinians who escaped max-security jail through cell floor First openly transgender bishop takes up post in US South African president tests positive for coronavirus amid countrywide spread of Omicron variant Australian federal court adjourns Djokovic case to consider verdict ‘Extremely disappointed’ Djokovic deported from Australia after losing visa case ‘Men need to step up’: Northern Ireland’s first minister pays tribute to Ashling Murphy at moving vigil