Ukrainian troops pulled out of the besieged town of Debaltseve on Wednesday as pro-Russian rebels advanced despite a cease-fire agreed upon last week.
The strategic town was the site of intense bombardment by rebel forces, and clashes left at least 22 Ukrainian soldiers dead in the past few days, according to Reuters. On Wednesday, President Petro Poroshenko announced the withdrawal of some 2,000 government troops, casting the move in a positive light as the end of an operation in the town.
The images above reveal the devastation that the fighting has wrought on troops and the local community around Debaltseve. The clashes have continued even after Russian President Vladimir Putin negotiated a cease-fire with Germany and France last week in Belarus.
Pro-Russian rebels fire artillery grad rockets towards Debaltseve on Feb. 18, 2015, near Vuglegirsk.Pierre Crom—Getty ImagesBodies of Ukrainian soldiers killed in Debaltseve are pictured on stretchers at a military camp in Artemivsk, Feb. 18, 2015. Oleksandr Klymenko—ReutersUkrainian soldiers rest near Artemivsk after leaving Debaltseve in the Donetsk region on Feb. 18, 2015. Anatolii Stepanov—AFP/Getty ImagesA building lies in ruins from being hit by a shell on Feb. 17, 2015 in Mironovka, near Debaltseve.Brendan Hoffman—Getty ImagesPeople cook lunch over a fire outside the local House of Culture, which serves as a distribution point for humanitarian aid and provides a bomb shelter, on Feb. 17, 2015 in Mironovka.Brendan Hoffman—Getty ImagesYulia Novomlynets, 18, waits in a line to receive the humanitarian aid in the local House of Culture, which is used as a bomb shelter in Mironovka village, Feb. 17, 2015. Anastasia Vlasova—EPAA woman inside the local House of Culture, which serves as a distribution point for humanitarian aid and provides a bomb shelter, on Feb. 17, 2015 in Mironovka.Brendan Hoffman—Getty ImagesA child plays cards in the local House of Culture which is used as a bomb shelter in Mironovka village, Feb. 17, 2015. Anastasia Vlasova—EPA
