The village of Ocheretyne in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region has been left in ruins as a result of fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Drone footage obtained by AP shows the devastating aftermath of the conflict, with most houses and apartment buildings damaged beyond repair and not a single person in sight.
Moscow’s army has been steadily advancing in the area, using artillery, drones, and bombs to pound Kyiv’s depleted forces. The Institute for the Study of War has noted that critical shortages of equipment from the West, particularly the US, have likely aided Russian forces in their campaign.
Despite Kyiv admitting that Russia has gained a foothold in Ocheretyne, the fighting continues unabated. Residents have been forced to flee the village, with one 98-year-old woman making a harrowing journey of almost 10 kilometers alone, supported only by a cane and wearing slippers, until she reached the Ukrainian front lines.
Meanwhile, Russia has intensified its attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, aiming to disrupt the region’s energy infrastructure and instill fear in its 1.3 million inhabitants. Dr. Jade McGlynn, a Research Fellow in War Studies at King’s College London, believes that Russia’s campaign of terror is designed to break the will of the population and force them to accept Russian control.
In response, Ukrainian forces have begun using US-provided long-range ATACMS missiles to strike Russian-held areas, including a military airfield in Crimea and an area east of the city of Berdyansk. These new missiles, with a striking distance of up to 300 kilometers, have significantly enhanced Ukraine’s capabilities in the conflict.