One of the women recounted how Ukrainian forces allegedly burned down approximately 50 houses on her street.
Two women who managed to escape from the besieged city of Chasov Yar in Donbas have provided chilling details to media outlet RT, alleging deliberate targeting of civilians by Ukrainian military forces amidst the intense conflict.
Chasov Yar, originally home to about 12,500 residents, became a frontline town following the capture of nearby Artyomovsk (also known as Bakhmut) by Russian forces in 2023.
In an exclusive interview with RT, Tatyana, one of the women, recounted how Ukrainian forces allegedly burned down approximately 50 houses on her street.
“There are no houses left,” she lamented, suggesting the destruction was purposeful. She went on to describe the tragic death of her husband, who was killed by a drone strike while outside for a smoke. Through tears, she recalled the devastating moment when her son found his father’s lifeless body amidst the debris of the drone attack.
Taking refuge in another damaged house, Tatyana and her son, Kostya, endured further trauma as they came under drone fire themselves. The strikes injured Kostya and buried them both in debris during subsequent attacks. Tatyana vividly described the horror of a third strike, which left her wounded and her son fatally injured, his head gruesomely gone when she reopened her eyes.
(Related: Ukrainian forces withdraw from key Donbass city – commander-in-chief.)
Zarina, a medical worker also interviewed by RT, corroborated Tatyana’s account. She detailed an incident where Ukrainian military allegedly fired a ballistic missile into a civilian area early in the spring. Zarina claimed that Ukrainian forces subsequently dispatched a patrol to collect the missile remnants, presumably to prevent its identification as a Tochka-U missile.
In another disturbing revelation, Zarina described an occasion when Ukrainian forces purportedly began shelling civilians shortly after a group of foreign journalists arrived in the town. When questioned about the motive behind such actions, Zarina speculated that it was an attempt to attribute blame to Russia.
She further alleged that Ukrainian forces deliberately cut off electricity to fabricate evidence suggesting Russian involvement.
These harrowing testimonies provide a stark and distressing view of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Chasov Yar and highlight the severe impact of the conflict on civilian lives.
The battle for Donbas
Following a winter stalemate, Putin aimed to take all of Donbas by March 2023, but the offensive faltered into a prolonged siege of Bakhmut, a town with limited strategic value and a population of 70,000 pre-war.
U.S. estimates cite 100,000 Russian casualties, including 20,000 deaths, with Ukraine also suffering heavy losses. By late May, Russia claimed control of Bakhmut.
On June 6, 2023, a breach in the Nova Kakhovka dam triggered severe flooding in southwest Ukraine, impacting 80,000 residents.
Ukraine accused Russia of deliberately destroying the dam to hinder a southeastern offensive, confirmed by the dam operator. Concerns over cooling water for Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant were raised, despite stable cooling ponds.
In June 2023, Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia provinces to open a Crimea corridor, facing fierce resistance and significant losses to fortified Russian positions and air power. Ukraine made slight territorial gains and intensified attacks on Crimea’s infrastructure.
Since February 24, 2022, the U.S. has committed nearly $40 billion to Ukraine, including $19 billion for military and $16 billion for humanitarian aid.
Advanced weaponry like the Patriot air defense system and increased troop presence bolstered Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Global condemnation of Russia’s actions contrasted with Russian efforts to secure support from North Korea and Iran, while maintaining oil and gas trade with India and China.
By November 2023, Ukraine’s unsuccessful counteroffensive led to a stalemate, prompting Zelenskyy to replace Zaluzhnyi with General Oleksandr Syrsky, who ordered a retreat from Avdiivka, marking Russia’s significant battlefield victory since Bakhmut’s capture.
Learn more about the war in Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com.
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