Surviving Debaltseve Pictures from the city at the heart of the war
For two weeks now, the city of Debaltseve, not far from Donetsk, has been the principal battleground in eastern Ukraine. Heavy fighting has accompanied the separatists’ efforts to retake the city. Today, there is little close combat, but the shelling of Debaltseve continues unabated. Most of the civilians have fled; those who remain are forced to seek refuge in basements. The city has been cut off from electricity, water, and heating. Meduza presents a photo-series showing what it means to survive in Debaltseve.
Destroyed buidling in Debaltseve, 2 February 2015.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
Private house in Debaltseve caught fire after shelling. Mobile phone network is down so it’s not possible to call a fire brigade.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
Local residents gather inside a bomb shelter in Debaltseve, January 30, 2015.
Photo: Maksim Levin / Reuters / Scanpix
A woman walks to cook on a fire outside her house, February 3, 2015.
Photo: Sergey Polezhaka / Reuters / Scanpix
A man walks past the damaged city council building, February 3, 2015.
Photo: Sergey Polezhaka / Reuters / Scanpix
Locals have to melt snow on open fire as there is no electricity, gas or water. 30 January 2015.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
Water is distributed in Debaltsevo Ukraine as locals experience a total blackout and no running water.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
Local citizens receive free bread, 30 January 2015.
Photo: Anastasia Vlasova / EPA / LETA
A group of children and a man await to be evacuated from a pickup point in the disputed town. 31 January 2015.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
A Ukrainian army soldier holds a Ukrainian kid while evacuating citizens from Debaltseve, February 3, 2015.
Photo: Manu Brabo / AFP / Scanpix
A woman and a child look through a bus window before leaving as people flee the conflict in Debaltseve, February 5, 2015.
Photo: Gleb Garanich / Reuters / Scanpix
Local residents wait for a bus to flee the conflict, February 5, 2015.
Photo: Gleb Garanich / Reuters / Scanpix
A man jumps on a large lorry carrying evacuees fleeing from the increasing battles between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian army, 31 January 2015.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
An elderly Ukrainian man is helped by a Ukrainian Army soldier and a citizen during a evacuation of civilians, February 3, 2015.
Photo: Manu Brabo / AFP / Scanpix
A local man waits near of the checkpoint with his cattle to pass as he leaves his home, 03 February 2015.
Photo: Anastasia Vlasova / EPA / LETA
A checkpoint guard greets an Ukrainian Army convoy en route to Debaltsevo, 31 January 2015.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
A Ukrainian soldier is seen atop of a Ukrainian armored vehicle while resupplying their battalion at the gate of Debaltseve, 3 February, 2015.
Photo: Manu Brabo / AFP / Scanpix
Ukrainian soldiers stand by a map of the Donetsk region discussing the tactical situation around Debaltsevo.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
Members of the Ukrainian armed forces gather inside a school building in Debaltseve, January 30, 2015.
Photo: Maksim Levin / Reuters / Scanpix
Ukrainian soldiers try to push-start a broken APC at a military checkpoint.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
Medics carry a wounded Ukrainian soldier inside Artemovsk hospital.
Photo: Petr Shelomovskiy / Demotix / Corbis / All Over Press
A Ukrainian soldier stands watch on a road between Debaltseve and the Ukrainian-controlled town of Artemovsk.
Photo: Manu Brabo / AFP / Scanpix