Trains no longer run to Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region - part of the Donbas claimed in its entirety by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. It's another sign of the steady Russian advance.
Instead, the last station is now on the western side of the Donetsk border. This is where civilians and soldiers wait for a ride towards relative safety - their train to get out of Dodge.
Putin has been sounding more bullish since the leak of US proposals to end the war, widely seen as being in tune with his maximalist demands. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky states that territory remains the most challenging issue facing US-led peace talks.
At the last station on the line, soldier Andrii and his girlfriend Polina part after an all-too-brief time together. Andrii, returning to the front, leaves behind uncertainty and a painful separation.
He laughs dismissively at the mention of peace talks, which have seen former President Donald Trump's envoys communicate with Ukrainian negotiators before heading to Moscow, regarding them merely as “chatter.” He is doubtful that the war will end soon.
The conflict's toll has been immense, with Russian forces controlling approximately 85% of the Donbas, while more civilians flee the region amid fear and peril. Daily, dozens of people arrive at a reception centre over the border in Lozova, seeking refuge. Many utilize the cover of heavy fog to escape the relentless drone warfare.
Yevheniy and his wife Maryna describe their harrowing escape from Kramatorsk, expressing concerns over the escalating dangers posed by drones. The family is now relocating to Kyiv while maintaining a grim outlook on the peace talks, fearing that Russia won't concede to Ukrainian terms.
Conversely, some citizens, like Oleksandr, while recognizing Russia's demands as extreme, are open to territorial compromise in exchange for peace. In contrast, others, including soldiers disillusioned and fatigued by the ongoing violence, assert their willingness to fight for every inch of their homeland, maintaining that no part of Donbas will be surrendered to Putin.
Inna, taking her five children to safety, acknowledges the grim reality of war, indicating her readiness to forfeit her home for peace if necessary. The landscape of belief about the conflict's outcome is deeply divided; some soldiers have deserted, taken by despair, while others remain resolute in defending their territory and people.
The complexities of war have left many questioning whether Ukraine can endure against the odds stacked against it by a massive adversary like Russia. As the international landscape shifts and talks progress, the reality on the ground for Ukrainians remains fraught with fear and uncertainty.
