Scorched earth

Avdiivka, a city in eastern Ukraine with a pre-war population of 30,000 people, first came under fire almost 10 years ago when the war in Donbas broke out. Hostilities resumed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022 and Russia launched an active offensive last autumn. On Saturday Ukraine announced that it would withdraw its troops from the city after years of fighting, leaving the city — or what remains of it — in the uncontested control of Russian forces.

This is what has become of Avdiivka after years of shelling.