Divided by the frontline, the ruins of the once beautiful settlement remind the scenes of the World War II Stalingrad battle as the pro-Russian militants and Russian regular army have been regularly shelling Ukrainian positions, Ukraine Today reports.

However, the government troops enjoy the advantages of controlling the commanding heights overlooking the battlefield.

According to Russian propaganda, it is the NATO forces that assist Ukrainian army in defending their positions, while Andriy Tsaplienko reports he only saw one European in the area – Polish writer Wadym Krszyszanyak.