
Ruthless in its advance, Russian forces have unleashed a wave of torment upon the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, the calmness of the town shattered by the deafening thunder of bombardments from the sky.
Trapped under the iron rain is Hanna and her 71-year-old mother, remaining resolute in their fifth-floor flat amidst the aerial chaos. Despite the escalating dangers, Hanna’s elderly mother steadfastly refuses to abandon the comfort of her bed, leaving Hanna helpless in her struggle between concern and filial duties.
Avdiivka, a key strategic location stands on an edge of a violent puzzle. It is situated at the heart of conflict that ignited in 2014, but only witnessed a notable exodus of residents since the amplification of Russia’s intrusion last February. A bustling home to over 30,000, the town’s population has now tragically dwindled to barely a thousand.
Russian forces launched a dire assault earlier this month, with its severity escalating day by day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky termed the round-the-clock conflict as “exceptionally alarming.”
Hanna’s tales of shattered windows and doors, the ruins that boasted of life once, speaks volumes of Avdiivka’s agonies. Nestled close to the city of Donetsk, the capture of Avdiivka by Russian forces would intensify their stronghold and constrict Ukrainian forces’ leverage over their own territory.
Venturing out to get the essentials from the last standing shop in town is a gamble between life and death, according to Hanna. Gone are the days when these streets brimmed with life and laughter. Today, the only hope of this ill-fated town is a facility known as Point of Invincibility — a haven providing food, refuge, and warmth.
Maryna, a diligent nurse and volunteer at the facility, speaks of sleepless nights filled with dread of airborne missiles. Her words echo the beleaguered spirit of Avdiivka that has seen its people flee, hoping to reunite in better days.
However, evacuating the thousand souls still clinging to their home is a daunting task. The special police unit White Angels, despite their heroic efforts, often face resistance from the stubborn residents. Hennadiy Yudin, a crew member, recounts saving 50 lives in the last week alone amid the worsening crisis.
Reminiscing on the vibrant life Avdiivka once boasted — the parks, boulevards and buzzing shops — Maryna yearns to return. But at present, witnessing the relentless devastation, her dreams seem distant amid the ashes of her once beautiful hometown.
So grave is the destruction of Avdiivka, that leaving behind this war-torn landscape Maryna whispers, “There is no Avdiivka any more.”
Every heart-breaking story that spirals out of the ruins deepens the chasms of uncertainty whether the echoes of laughter and life will ever return to the streets of Avdiivka.