From their boltholes in the trenches in the frontlines of Ukraine's battle to resist the Russian forces, Kyiv's troops express frustration that they could not join NATO immediately. They argue that they are all that stands between the Russian aggressors and the rest of Europe. "Ukraine is now acting like a shield for the EU and for NATO. We are wasting our human resources and we are like a shield for them," a soldier going by the nom-de-guerre Oscar tells AFP. "But if we are in NATO, they will have to use their human resources to help us, their weapons... I think this is still unprofitable for Europe and for NATO." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES ++ TEXT 33NR4YD