The Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine has long been in Moscow's sights. Vladimir Putin reportedly says he'll freeze the war in return for full control of it.
Russia already controls 70% of Donetsk and nearly all of neighbouring Luhansk - and is making slow but steady advances.
Heading to the frontline town of Dobropillia with two humanitarian volunteers, just 8km from Russia's positions, we are on a mission to bring the sick, elderly, and children to safety.
We speed into the town in an armoured car, equipped with drone-jamming technology, under a canopy of tall green netting that shields us from aerial surveillance.
This is their second trip of the morning, and the streets are mostly empty. The few remaining residents only leave their homes to collect supplies. Russian attacks come daily.
Every passing building is damaged, some reduced to ruins. The situation is exacerbated as small groups of Russian troops breached local defences a week prior, causing many residents to feel it’s time to leave.
As we arrive to evacuate Vitalii Kalinichenko, a local resident, he describes how a drone crash has impacted his home, leaving him bandaged and shaken. My windows were all smashed, he tells us.
With drones still above us, we take cover whenever necessary, showcasing the dire reality on the ground.
Volunteers Laarz and Varia, who have made numerous trips, share their commitment to support those trapped in this turbulent region. Their resolve is a stark contrast to the fear that dominates the lives of Dobropillia’s residents.
During a brief evacuation, Anton, another evacuee, expresses his hope that negotiations might bring resolution to the conflict, saying, We need to sit at the negotiation table and resolve this conflict in a peaceful way. Without blood, without victims. This sentiment, however, is met with skepticism by others like Varia, who argues that trusting Russia could lead to further aggression.
The escalating military engagement in Donetsk risks jeopardizing not only the immediate areas of fighting but broader regions across Ukraine. The stakes are high as each decision weighs heavily on the future of the country.
The situation is urgent, with ongoing evacuations vital for countless lives in peril as the bombs continue to fall. It becomes increasingly clear that the cost of holding on to Donetsk involves unimaginable sacrifices amid a fight for freedom that is far from over.
