Heavy shelling in Avdiivka kills two civilians, forces hundreds to flee
Russian forces continued heavy shelling of the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka for a fifth consecutive day on Sunday (Oct 15). The shelling was so intense that emergency crews were unable to recover the dead and wounded from destroyed buildings. Two people were killed in the Russian attacks on civilians.
Avdiivka has been in the front line of fierce fighting for months. In recent weeks, fighting has intensified amid the aggressor's efforts to regain lost territory. The warring parties remain locked in a deadly battle that brings only destruction and despair.
A 77-year-old man was seriously injured in the shelling. Fortunately, he was able to recover. His wife, who decided to evacuate, was killed in an attack.
"My wife died in Vyshgorod. So I stayed alone," he said.
"I said I would not leave Avdiivka. I was almost dead. I only remember how I got up: my arm was hanging, the same, and my leg, there was blood everywhere. It was hard, but I managed to recover. Here I am in front of you. I feel a huge void. I want peace, at least, to see peace."
The constant shelling forces those who still refuse, or simply cannot leave, to hide in basements. In one of the makeshift shelters, the few remaining locals can find water, food, hygiene items, and electricity. Here, they can catch a glimpse of the outside world through an internet connection or a television screen. Simple and essential things to fill the void created by loneliness and fear. After countless nights of terror with the ferocious booms, the people here have little hope. Some despairingly end their lives. The number of suicides is alarmingly high, says the Donetsk police.
"I have no words, maybe it's the consequences of military operations. Houses are destroyed, families are separated, children are leaving," says Donetsk police officer Gennady Iudin.
The Ukrainian army repelled 15 Russian attacks near Avdiivka, Tonenke, and Pervomaisk in the Donetsk region. President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the troops in areas where the fighting was "particularly heavy."
"Our fighters, in all the particularly hot spots at the moment: Avdiivka, Mariinka, and other key settlements in the Donetsk region. Klishcheievka, Kurdiumovka, Andriivka, Staromaiorske. Of course, the Kupyansk direction. Zaporizhzhya region - Orehov, Robotine, Verbove, Novoprokopivka. I thank everyone who is holding their positions and destroying the Russian troops. Every day of battles means lives. Lives that are sacrificed for the sake of our country. The life of the whole of Ukraine is saved every day, every night by every successful battle. This is so important," the leader from Kiev emphasised.
The Kherson region has also been hit constantly, especially critical infrastructure, and two guided bombs caused a power outage and water supply disruptions. Russian forces are conducting an "active defence" and have been able to strengthen their positions along almost the entire front line in Ukraine, said President Vladimir Putin. At the same time, the British Ministry of Defense announced that Russia is building a railway line to Mariupol to facilitate supply on the southern front.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
