CHASIV YAR: Until a couple of weeks ago, things were quiet in the town of Chasiv Yar, despite being just a few kilometres from one of the fiercest frontlines of the war in eastern Ukraine.
Then an explosive projectile crashed into the Akusov family's yard, destroying an outdoor toilet and damaging the roof and windows of their home. The family decided it was time to leave.
But there was more tragedy ahead: Raissa Akusova, 75-year-old grandmother and matriarch of the family, died on the road. Her loved ones think she suffered a heart attack.
A Reuters team including photographer Marko Djurica had accompanied volunteers from a charity to Chasiv Yar that day. The charity workers carried with them addresses of residents who sought help evacuating as Russian troops neared.
When they arrived outside the family's home, Djurica said it was clear that Akusova was feeling very unwell. She leaned on her son-in-law's arm and had to take rests as she made her way slowly to the charity's waiting minibus.
"While she was walking, the grenades were falling," Djurica said. "You could hear outgoing and incoming artillery near us in the area. It was bad. Somehow she managed to get into the bus."
Chasiv Yar has been shelled heavily in recent days as Russian troops work to cut off routes to the nearby city of Bakhmut, almost a year on from their Feb. 24, 2022, invasion.
The minibus set off to take Akusova and others to an evacuation centre in the city of Dnipro. As her condition worsened, charity workers first searched for a doctor in Chasiv Yar. They then raced southwest to a hospital in the city of Kostiantynivka, where she was pronounced dead.
"They took her out of the minibus and they put her in the morgue," Djurica said. "The grandson was crying, her daughter was crying. It was emotional."
With her body in the care of the doctors in Kostiantynivka, the minibus then continued on its journey to Dnipro.
Reuters
Wed Feb 15 2023
Iryna holds the body of her mother Raiisa, who passed away due to a prior illness during a civilian evacuation, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine. - REUTERS
10 Berita Pilihan - (25 April 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Khamis, 25 April 2024.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Netizen korek gambar lama Ruhainies makan bersuap dalam ferrari, netizen: “Macam mana boleh downgrade…”
Nama Ruhainies kembali menjadi bualan netizen gara-gara tangkap layar perbualan menerusi Whatsapp yang didakwa merupakan perbualannya bersama Aliff Aziz viral di media sosial.
Tumpuan Jumaat - 26 April 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
AWANI Ringkas: Nahas helikopter TLDM
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AirAsia X timbang tawar penerbangan ke Eropah Timur, London dan Orlando
AirAsia X menimbang kemungkinan untuk menawarkan penerbangan ke negara di Eropah Timur dan menyambung semula laluan ke London serta menggunakan hak pendaratannya di Orlando.
ASEAN-BAC akan tertumpu mendorong janji niaga, transaksi, produk serantau
Asean-BAC yang akan dipengerusikan oleh Malaysia tahun depan akan tertumpu untuk menghasilkan peningkatan janji niaga.
Menteri Luar Malaysia perkukuh hubungan dengan China semasa lawatan rasmi pertama
Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan mengadakan perbincangan substantif dengan rakan sejawatannya, Wang Yi, dalam lawatan pertama beliau ke China sejak memegang jawatan itu pada Disember 2023.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Khairul Azhari Saut diumumkan sebagai calon PN
Pemangku Ketua Bahagian Bersatu Hulu Selangor Khairul Azhari Saut diumumkan sebagai calon Perikatan Nasional (PN) bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu.