BAKHMUT, Ukraine — Shellfire echoed on Saturday across the near-deserted streets of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the present focus of probably the most intense combating in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, regardless of Moscow’s declaration of a ceasefire for Eastern Orthodox Christmas.
Sparkling clear skies and a dusting of snow belied the devastation of a metropolis deserted by most of its pre-war inhabitants of 70,000, the place humanitarian volunteers now danger their lives to help those that stayed.
“Dear God, our city was once so lovely,” mentioned 75-year-old Olha, well dressed and carrying lipstick as she carried purchasing baggage alongside the road.
“There had been roses all over the place, flowers,” she a…
Keep on studying: Shelling booms round Bakhmut’s streets in ‘Christmas ceasefire’