A rescue worker takes cover as he heard new explosions next to him while they put out the fire of a house which was shelled by Russian forces at the residential neighborhood in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, Friday, March 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A rescue worker speaks on the phone while his team puts out a fire in a house which was shelled by Russian forces at the residential neighbourhood in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, Friday, March 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Paramedics and Ukrainian police officers haul a stretcher carrying local resident Oleksandr Nikiforov, 49, who was injured by Russian shelling, to an ambulance in a residential neighborhood near Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, Friday, March 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
KOSTIANTYNIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — Thick grey smoke pours from the roof as the firefighters arrive at the brick house, one of several homes hit by Russian shelling in a residential neighborhood of Kostiantynivka.
The city in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk province has come under intense bombardment in recent days amid a Russian push , where Ukrainian forces have held on during a grinding battle that started last summer.
Ukrainian authorities say Russian forces are attacking Kostiantynivka with cluster bombs and missiles. Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of Donetsk province, said one person was killed and at least three civilians wounded after several rounds of Russian shelling on Saturday.
An attack on the city a day earlier injured eight people and destroyed or damaged more than a dozen houses. The barrages have overwhelmed local firefighters, who take great risks putting out fires in buildings and cars even as the shelling continues.
The air is heavy with smoke and the sharp smell of explosives as the firefighters unfold a hose. They smash the windows of the brick house and spray water from the outside.
There are no people inside, but a dog is trapped in a cage in the backyard. A firefighter opens the gate and the dog runs out amid the smoke and debris.
The chief of the unit calls on his team to stop what they’re doing.
“Attention everyone. Air raid!†he shouts.
The firefighters take cover behind the house. They sit quietly as explosions go off in the near distance. One lights a cigarette.
It’s unclear whether the blasts are a new wave of attacks or secondary explosions caused by fires in the area. Either way, the explosions are getting too close, and the leader of the team orders everyone back to the truck.
As they run down the dirt road, another loud explosion rocks the neighborhood, sending a cloud of smoke toward the sky not far from the house they just left.
___
Associated Press writer Karl Ritter in Kyiv contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine:
¹ú²úÓÕ»ó¸£Àû. All rights reserved.
Canada is entering a new era of nation-building. From clean-energy corridors and c…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
