Ukraine Families Flee Into the Forest to Escape Brutal Fighting in Sloviansk
Brutal fighting between pro-Russia separatists and the Ukrainian army in Sloviansk has prompted a mass exodus of city residents—and many have no idea when they’ll be able to return home.
Valery, Alexey, Sergei, and Vitaliy were camping in their usual spot on the bank of the Seversky Donets River in eastern Ukraine, with a lamb-filled pot swinging above the campfire. A white Lada off-road vehicle was parked nearby, ready to rescue visiting cars should they get stuck in the mud. The Lada also provided light during the vodka-fueled evenings.
There was one big difference from previous years, however; this time, the men didn’t know when the trip would be over. They only knew that it wouldn’t end until they stopped hearing daily explosions.
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