Civilians fleeing Ukraine’s east say Russian forces have ‘ruined everything’

A child and a man, fleeing from heavy shelling, wave to a photographer before departing in an evacuation train at Pokrovsk train station (Francisco Seco/AP)

Civilians fleeing the war in the east of Ukraine have described scenes of devastation after their towns and villages came under sustained attacks from Russian forces.

From houses on fire and artillery blasting through thick apartment walls to people hiding in basements without electricity, water, or gas as their towns were pulverised above them, the horrors have left ordinary Ukrainians in shock and fighting back tears.