Ukrainian town of Druzhkivka lies in ruins as Russian forces close in

Druzhkivka, a small town in eastern Ukraine, is now a landscape of charred vehicles, rubble and silent streets after weeks of heavy fighting. Artillery shells and the high-pitched whine of attack drones dominate the daily environment, as Russian troops have advanced to within about 15 km of the settlement. Residents such as Iryna Litovchenko, who struggles to sleep amid the sounds of howitzers, and Zoya, a market vendor who refuses to leave despite the danger, recount the loss of homes and the emotional shock of seeing their town reduced to ruins.

The town lies on a key supply route known as the “fortress belt,” a series of urban centers that Russian forces are desperate to break through to seize the Donbas. Ukrainian defenders continue to hold the line, using netting on roads and unmanned ground vehicles to supply troops and evacuate the wounded, while civilians cling to the hope of survival amid the devastation.