Within days of Russia’s invasion, Anastasia Pavlova understood what the war was going to mean for Ukraine. The 23-year-old escaped the bombardment of Kharkiv, a city where shelling of residential areas was “indiscriminate” – in the words of the local mayor – from the start. Anastasia and her fiance Abakelia went south, to the city of Dnipro. She felt safer here in the tower block apartment of Abakelia’s family. But she agonised over the fate of her own parents, who lived on the outskirts of Mariupol.
Mariupol: Driving into the ‘apocalypse’ to save mum and dad
Putin claims victory in Mariupol, leaving Ukrainian defenders holed up
Putin claims victory in Mariupol, US to send more guns and money
How Russia captured ‘prized’ city of Mariupol after weeks of intense fighting
