They call the road leading to Lisiான்ansk “Road to Hell”: the Russian army shoots everything that moves there – Tuesday afternoon towards us!
We left early in the morning to talk to the public in Lysychansk in eastern Ukraine, to see the destruction, to see for ourselves. The site threatens to be heavily attacked and besieged by the Russian military.
By the time we get back at noon on the last road out of town, the attack is happening! Four explosions a meter in front of us. After a while there were more explosions and our window was broken.
Members of the BILD team were not injured and the car’s windshield was brokenPhoto: Giorgos Moutafis
BILD reporter Paul Ronzheimer disappeared from a Russian fire in the back seat of a carPhoto: Giorgos Moutafis
We run as fast as we can, and on a more dusty road, the dust spins in the air and we can not see anything. This is it, Hells Road.
The shell sounds from a distance, but half an hour later the Russian army launches a massive attack.
The three of us hug each other. We know we may be dead by now.
BILD Vice Paul Ronsheimer, photographer Georgos Moudafis and reporter Vadim Moisenko stand in front of their car after being shot by Russian troops. Rear panel completely wiped (right)Photo: Giorgos Moutafis
A French journalist was killed here a few weeks ago. Nearly two dozen journalists have been killed so far in the Ukraine war.
The horror we also experience shows how intense the war is going on in the East. What we see in Lysychansk shows the whole drama of the war. People who have been without water and electricity for months. Many buildings, such as the Cultural Center, which was razed to the ground by the airstrikes, have been completely destroyed.
The Russian military does not want horror to be reported. They also attack journalists and try to intimidate journalists.
We and the BILD will continue to report from the site!
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