Fleeing Russian Advances: The Journey of Volodymyr Arkhipov and Others

Volodymyr Arkhipov, along with his 84-year-old uncle Mykola, fled Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine due to Russian advances. They are part of many displaced by Russia's push for control of Donetsk. Reaching western Ukraine, they join others sharing harrowing tales of destruction and survival.

Sitting in a spartan, third-class train carriage about to depart from Pokrovsk's railway station in eastern Ukraine, Volodymyr Arkhipov reflected on the relentless Russian advances that forced him to flee his home for the second time in two years.

Recounting his final days in the embattled town of Toretsk, the 57-year-old shared a harrowing experience of recovering a suffocated woman's corpse following a Russian bombardment. He and his 84-year-old uncle, Mykola Arkhipov, were on their way toward western Ukraine from Pokrovsk after spending a night there, having fled Toretsk, 30 miles to the east.

The men are part of a broader exodus as Russian forces progress in the eastern Donetsk region, targeting major towns and logistical hubs like Pokrovsk. The region has seen heavy shelling and civilian casualties, with many, including Arkhipov and his uncle, carrying just their essential belongings while recounting tales of intense violence and hurried burials.