Hour By Hour In A Ghost Town On Ukraine's Frontline
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last February, the once-thriving industrial city of 30,000 in the disputed Donbas region has become a ghost town. Those who haven't fled now hide indoors, huddling in the basements of apartment blocks. Avdiivka: The civilians of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine have been in the crossfire of fierce fighting since pro-Russian rebels seized control of nearby Donetsk in 2014. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last February, the once-thriving industrial city of 30,000 in the disputed Donbas region has become a ghost town. Those who haven't fled now hide indoors, huddling in the basements of apartment blocks with no running water or electricity, fearing a direct hit from constant shelling from both sides An AFP team visited Avdiivka on February 8. Fire and water - 8:39 am: the fire in a corner flat at the top of 1 Komunalna Street is still burning from a rocket strike the night before. Thick grey smoke billows from a st...