Inside Donetsk as residents flee attacks on Ukrainian region Putin wants to control

The Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine remains a perilous frontline, with its civilian population caught in the escalating conflict. As sustained attacks, particularly from unmanned aerial vehicles, batter communities, a critical humanitarian effort is underway to evacuate residents from the most dangerous areas. Volunteers are working tirelessly, often under direct threat, to transport individuals and families to safety, navigating damaged roads and persistent shelling. Many residents, having endured months of uncertainty and hardship, are making the difficult decision to leave their homes behind as the intensity of the fighting shows no signs of abating. The region’s strategic importance, central to Moscow’s military objectives, underscores the urgency and danger faced by those remaining and those attempting to flee. Eyewitness accounts from the ground depict a landscape of profound destruction and displacement, highlighting the immediate and severe impact of the conflict on civilian lives and infrastructure. The continuous drone strikes add a new layer of terror and unpredictability to daily existence, compelling more to seek refuge beyond the conflict zone. Efforts to provide aid and facilitate evacuations are a race against time, as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate amidst ongoing hostilities.