Pierre Crom

  • Ukraine
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    • spring 2014
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    • summer 2014
    • winter 2015
    • spring 2015
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During the summer of 2014 the conflict in southeast Ukraine escalated. The Ukrainian army tried to regain control of the areas previously taken over by pro-Russian militia groups. The city of Sloviansk was taken back by Ukraine. Pro-Russian fighters from the ‘freed’ areas moved to Donetsk and other places where the rebels still had control.

The Ukrainians closed in on the city of Donetsk, one of the rebel strongholds. Artillery barrages fired by both sides killed civilians caught up in the crossfire. Buildings, neighbourhoods and a high-security prison were damaged by the shelling. As fighting intensified, more people fled the area.

Meanwhile, the pro-Russian groups also tried to claim back territory. Supported by pro-Russian volunteers, soldiers, weapons and tanks from Russia, they regained control of the border areas. With both sides firmly engaged in the fighting, the conflict moved ever closer to the edge of a full-scale war.

Donetsk, August 09, 2014 - Residents' reactions after artillery shellings. © Pierre Crom

Uglegorsk, August 13, 2014 - Children gather in the street soon after Ukrainian forces regained control of Uglegorsk. © Pierre Crom

Donetsk, August 14, 2014 - Residents of Donetsk sit in a bomb shelter in the Topaz district as fightings between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists escalated. © Pierre Crom

Donetsk, August 15, 2014 - A worker pours water over his body after renovating a school that was damaged during artillery fightings. © Pierre Crom

Dyakove, August 2,0 2014 - Russian-backed separatist Pavel Ilitsch, military commander of Rovenky and his girlfriend, inspect newly seized Ukrainian territories. © Pierre Crom

Donetsk, August 22, 2014 - A backyard in a residential area damaged by artillery shellings. © Pierre Crom

Donetsk, August 23, 2014 - A man weeps next to the body of his brother who was killed during artillery shellings. © Pierre Crom

Donetsk, August 24, 2014 - A wounded Ukrainian soldier taken prisoner by pro-Russian separatists shelters in the basement of a hospital. © Pierre Crom