Sharjah24 - AFP: There is little left of Soledar. A church, a few food shops and an ironmonger in a basement.
Located right next to the front line, this mining town in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region -- where several thousand people still live -- has been under constant shelling for more than three months.
The terrifying sounds of explosions break the silence at regular intervals in the now ghostly town, whose name translates as "Gift of Salt" after a giant salt mine on the outskirts.
The mine, managed by Ukrainian company Artemsol, normally produces millions of tons a year and is also a tourist attraction known for its "fairytale salt sculptures" according to the brochures.
Soledar, which had 15,000 inhabitants before the war, is also known for an underground sanatorium to treat pulmonary diseases.
That was before the invasion.
Soldar found itself on the path of Russian troops pushing to take over the Donetsk region and came under fire from both sides.
The mine, struck several times, is now closed.
Many inhabitants have fled. According to the local residents who have remained, there are only some 2,000 people left fending for themselves.
The houses along the main street are half destroyed or blackened by smoke.
The cultural centre has been destroyed and its ruins still smell of smoke. Papers can be seen scattered in the ruins and a phone handset lies on a desk.
"It happened on the night of July 9th to 10th. That night, a dozen missiles struck Soledar," said Tetyana, a woman walking past with her five-year-old daughter and 67-year-old mother.
The centre burned for several days with no firefighters to extinguish the flames.
"There are no more local authorities, no police, no doctors, no pharmacy. Everyone has left. We've been abandoned," Tetyana said.
For an optimal experience, please
