DRUZHKIVKA, Ukraine: In Druzhkivka, the population is dwindling, and the civilians who have remained despite the growing danger live alongside Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russian forces, which are now about nine miles away and slowly advancing towards the town.

Burned-out cars line the streets of the town, while broken concrete and rubble from destroyed buildings lie scattered across deserted roads. The sound of artillery fire can be heard in the distance, often followed by the sharp, high-pitched noise of an attack drone flying overhead.

This has become the daily reality for people living in the eastern Ukrainian town.

The destruction seen in Druzhkivka is being repeated across much of the 1,200-km (746-mile) frontline in eastern and southern Ukraine. As Russian troops continue to move forward, apartment buildings, shops, markets and other civilian areas are being destroyed. Many towns and villages near the front have become extremely difficult, if not impossible, to live in.

Among those who have chosen to stay is 56-year-old Iryna Litovchenko. She said she had lost her home and described how strangers had taken her in after the destruction. Walking through broken glass and debris near badly damaged buildings, she said that everything she had once owned had disappeared in a single attack.

Litovchenko said her home and belongings had represented years of her life and that the destruction made it feel as though they had never existed.

Druzhkivka is located along an important road connecting several strategic towns and cities that form what is known as Ukraine's "fortress belt". This chain of urban settlements is a major defensive line that Russian forces are trying to break as Moscow seeks to capture the wider Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

Taking control of the Donbas remains one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's main goals in the war. However, more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Russian troops have still struggled to break through Ukraine's main defensive positions.

The constant threat from drones has added another danger for civilians and soldiers. Litovchenko appears largely accustomed to the sound of artillery fire and does not react strongly when a nearby howitzer fires. However, the quieter sound of a drone makes her much more cautious. When she hears one overhead, she stops and looks for somewhere to take cover, at times sheltering beneath the branches of a tree.

Thousands of Ukrainian and Russian drones are now operating close to the frontline. Many of these uncrewed aircraft are controlled remotely by pilots who search for soldiers, vehicles and other targets. Their widespread use has made the front increasingly dangerous.

The threat is also visible on the roads around Druzhkivka and other towns along the fortress belt. Many roads have been covered with protective netting designed to reduce the risk of drone attacks on people and vehicles traveling through the area.

Ukraine is also using unmanned ground vehicles to support troops near the frontline. One such vehicle can be seen moving quickly through the area as it carries supplies to Ukrainian positions and helps evacuate wounded soldiers.

Despite the continuing attacks and destruction, some residents remain determined to stay. Zoya, a 63-year-old woman who sells basic food from outside a badly burned market stall, has refused to leave Druzhkivka. She understands that remaining in the town could cost her life.

"I know a bomb could come flying in and I'll die. I understand that perfectly well."