Group of soldiers in tactical gear gathered in a dark setting, illuminated by a single light source.

The New No-Man’s-Land

The Observer with Robert Spangle is a documentary series exploring modern conflict through the people who live and endure it. Shot on the frontlines, each episode documents how technology, courage, and survival intersect in the world’s most volatile places.

Episode Two — The New No-Man’s-Land takes viewers deep into Ukraine’s eastern front, where the traditional battlefield has vanished. Drones now rule the sky, and the space once considered “behind the lines” has become the most dangerous ground in modern warfare.

The film follows the DaVinci Wolves, a volunteer Ukrainian medical battalion, as they fight to save the wounded trapped in the so-called Grey Zone — a stretch of territory under constant Russian surveillance and drone attack. Through the story of one soldier, Mykola, gravely wounded and stranded for days, the episode captures the brutal new reality of drone-era combat, where survival depends not on fighting, but on escaping.

The New No-Man’s-Land reveals how warfare has evolved into a constant contest of visibility and precision — and how a handful of medics, armed with courage and a sense of duty, continue to risk everything to pull their comrades back from the brink.

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A man with gray hair and a beard standing outdoors next to a memorial plaque. He is wearing a beige shirt, khaki pants, and a gray vest, with a backpack and various accessories. The memorial plaque is inscribed with Ukrainian text and bears dates from 1995 to 2023. The background consists of a grassy hillside with sparse vegetation.

by Robert Spangle

Robert Spangle is a journalist, photographer, and former U.S. Marine. His work focuses on conflict zones and human stories, offering detailed, empathetic narratives from the frontlines. Spangle's firsthand reporting often highlights the human experience amidst war, combining his military background with a keen eye for storytelling.

@thousandyardstyle

  • A person inside a dark aircraft or helicopter cockpit illuminated by red light, wearing a headset and reaching toward equipment.
  • Three men standing around a table in a blue-lit room, with one in military camouflage, one in a blue jacket, and one in dark clothing, under a wall-mounted device.
  • Medical team in surgical scrubs, masks, and gloves performing surgery in an operating room.
  • A seated soldier in camouflage uniform and wheelchair talking to a woman and two men dressed in military and civilian clothes in a hallway.

Thanks to Fjorden for supporting this story.

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