Ukraine Starts Evacuating Eastern Town Where Battle Rages On
- Buses with women and children leave Avdiivka, near Donetsk
- Fighting is deadliest in weeks in conflict that began in 2014
An Ukrainian serviceman helps a local resident in the town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region on Jan. 31.
Photographer: Aleksey Filippo/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Ukraine began evacuating civilians from the eastern town at the center of the deadliest flare-up in fighting in 1 1/2 months between government forces and Russian-backed insurgents.
Two buses took mothers and children out of Avdiivka, about 20 kilometers (13 miles) from separatist stronghold Donetsk, and more vehicles are on standby, Fridon Vekua, a local administration official, said Wednesday by phone. A temporary cease-fire has been agreed to allow repairs to electricity and heating in the town of 22,000 where temperatures are well below freezing.