Less than 2% of injuries are gunshot wounds: BI reveals main frontline threats
Most combat injuries among Ukrainian soldiers are caused by explosions and shrapnel, not bullets — firefights on the front line are becoming rarer. Business Insider cites Ukrainian military medics and experienced American veterans who train Ukrainian forces. This shift is radically transforming both combat tactics and medical care.
Ukrainian doctor Kateryna Zirka observes injuries that hit multiple areas of the body with dozens of micro-fragments without a clear entry wound. Such trauma often leads to burns and sometimes requires amputations. Medical personnel have adapted their equipment — priority is now given to protection against multiple shrapnel injuries.
Explosions cause not only visible wounds but also hidden injuries: concussions, ruptured eardrums, and lung barotrauma from shockwaves. U.S. Navy veteran Jeffrey Wells emphasizes that a significant portion of casualties occurs not in the trenches but from missile strikes or drone attacks in the rear. Delta Force veteran Mark Antal adds: “Less than 2% of frontline injuries are gunshot wounds; the rest are caused by drones and shrapnel.”
For reference, Ukrainian Armed Forces losses in 2025 decreased by 13%. Additionally, Ukrainian soldiers eliminated over a thousand enemy combatants in a single day.
