The eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve is at the center of the latest clashes between the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatists. As shells strike residential areas, some civilians have retreated to their basements for safety. Many have been living without electricity, gas, or water for over a week. Photojournalist Petr Shelomovskiy covered the harsh realities of daily life in Debaltseve for RFE/RL's Current Time TV program.
Debaltseve Residents Seek Shelter Below Ground As Clashes Rage
![Residents of Debaltseve haul a small supply of drinking water from a tanker truck.](https://gdb.rferl.org/bced3bab-0199-45d6-8f21-4ad03199379a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Residents of Debaltseve haul a small supply of drinking water from a tanker truck.
![Drinking water is distributed in Debaltseve.](https://gdb.rferl.org/672dae95-b977-4f35-a0ce-282f7862e5a0_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Drinking water is distributed in Debaltseve.
![Smoke rises from the rubble of houses destroyed by shelling.](https://gdb.rferl.org/2b13e7b0-5db7-4cd8-88f7-1a3c995f4cbc_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Smoke rises from the rubble of houses destroyed by shelling.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/b06a8b61-e5c3-4d13-b540-cea14c15f095_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![Valentina Pavlovna walks past a crater left by recent shelling as she goes to visit her sick aunt.](https://gdb.rferl.org/4f0319f3-5f10-4eba-91bc-250c8313acc3_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Valentina Pavlovna walks past a crater left by recent shelling as she goes to visit her sick aunt.
![Snow melted over a fire provides another source of water.](https://gdb.rferl.org/4819f638-ce6e-4453-ad61-f26d0cbce669_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Snow melted over a fire provides another source of water.
![Many residents have sought refuge in their basements as clashes continue around the town.](https://gdb.rferl.org/7d864991-0ae9-4904-b767-8a295f04fc9e_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Many residents have sought refuge in their basements as clashes continue around the town.
![Humanitarian workers deliver blankets to Debaltseve.](https://gdb.rferl.org/0e674ece-0ba7-4756-9336-6890f7a522b6_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Humanitarian workers deliver blankets to Debaltseve.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/6aa89247-7781-40d7-95e0-4c029de0729a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![Residents charge their mobile phones from a diesel generator.](https://gdb.rferl.org/4f5ca5df-461c-411c-8efc-47f1dc1bc87c_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Residents charge their mobile phones from a diesel generator.
![A Ukrainian serviceman](https://gdb.rferl.org/cc1e5173-b85a-471b-b80b-b1c29c32c22b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A Ukrainian serviceman
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/16a84838-3b75-491b-80e4-842c0dbd000c_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![](https://gdb.rferl.org/c323f9fa-6ed3-47ad-9832-f8d3ad6da6f1_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![A military ambulance leaves the hospital in Artemivsk, near Debaltseve.](https://gdb.rferl.org/1a8391b6-11a4-4ef7-90c9-d65e242d5909_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A military ambulance leaves the hospital in Artemivsk, near Debaltseve.
![Oleh, a serviceman, was wounded while his unit was retreating from Uhlehirsk.](https://gdb.rferl.org/5b82783c-2ca3-40a1-b634-245043903735_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Oleh, a serviceman, was wounded while his unit was retreating from Uhlehirsk.