Living Amidst Russia’s War In the Fractured Town of Zaitseve

For the last few days, residents of Zaitseve in the Donetsk region have been living under artillery attack by Russian-hybrid forces. Shells are constantly exploding in residential areas and destroying civilian homes.

Residents of the front line town try not to leave home unless absolutely necessary. Every minute, they risk coming under fire. Recently, unexpectedly, their houses were shelled with mortars and guns from occupied Horlivka.

The front line divides Zaitseve in half. One part is controlled by the Ukrainian army, the other one – by Russian-hybrid forces. Militants hide their artillery behind piles of debris, which are common in Horlivka. They attack with multiple weapons simultaneously.

When shells explode, temperatures reach several thousand degrees Celsius leaving burn marks on the ground.

Over the four years of the war, many Zaitseve residents have lost homes. Some rely on neighbor’s basements for cover.

Un-detonated shells are also a problem. When Ukrainian soldiers find them, they set them off so that they won’t pose a danger to remaining Zaitseve residents.

As it has been for for several years now, Zaitseve continues to be a flash points in the war in Donbas. Russian-led militants continue to attack civilian houses almost daily.