After the battle

After the battle

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At Donetsk International Airport the bombed out buildings and burned out vehicles stand as mute reminders of eight months of pitched battles that took place here between government forces and armed rebels.

Just a few years earlier in 2013, the airport celebrated its 80th anniversary. Built during the Soviet times and renovated to host the 2012 European soccer championship, it was gleaming and alive with activity.

. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

The airport, named after Donetsk-born Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, has become a powerful symbol of a conflict that has killed 6000 people and turned parts of east Ukraine into ruins.

Flights stopped operating from here last spring, when the fighting began. There is still some activity, with a few separatists patrolling the destroyed airport.

. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

The hand of a dead fighter lies buried in rubble at a terminal littered with bodies of Ukrainian soldiers.

The airport became a charnel house during eight months of intense fighting, the most fiercely contested spot in east Ukraine.

Kiev's troops held out here through months-long siege that saw both sides fire barrages of artillery and heavy rockets. They were finally forced out in a rebel advance in January.

“There are lots of dead bodies under the rubble here. They are just buried there. We offered them to surrender three times, but they refused,” said an unidentified rebel.

. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

The conflict has forced hundreds of thousands of east Ukrainians to flee their homes. But for people still staying in the largely-destroyed residential areas near the airport, the sound of shelling isn’t very far.

Despite a shaky ceasefire deal, both Kiev and the rebels still accuse each other of breaking the truce on an almost daily basis.

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Gas masks lie on the floor.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Gas masks lie on the floor.

A lost and found sign is seen amongst debris.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

A lost and found sign is seen amongst debris.

Armed men from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic still patrol the airport.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Armed men from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic still patrol the airport.

An armed man from the separatist group stands in the destroyed terminal.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

An armed man from the separatist group stands in the destroyed terminal.

A wall is painted with messages, names of soldiers and symbols of Ukrainian army units.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

A wall is painted with messages, names of soldiers and symbols of Ukrainian army units.

Bodies of Ukrainian soldiers lie amid the rubble.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Bodies of Ukrainian soldiers lie amid the rubble.

The scorched remains of a rifle magazine lies on the floor.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

The scorched remains of a rifle magazine lies on the floor.

An fighter from the separatist army leads prisoners of war.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

An fighter from the separatist army leads prisoners of war.

Ukrainian prisoners are guarded by armed men.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Ukrainian prisoners are guarded by armed men.

An fighter sits on a barrel in the airport car park.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

An fighter sits on a barrel in the airport car park.

A man pushes a comrade on a trolley in the parking lot.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

A man pushes a comrade on a trolley in the parking lot.

A sign is seen on a road to the airport.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

A sign is seen on a road to the airport.

A vehicle stands in a car park, damaged in the months of fighting.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

A vehicle stands in a car park, damaged in the months of fighting.

A man stands on top of an armoured personnel carrier.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

A man stands on top of an armoured personnel carrier.

An armed man walks outside the destroyed terminal.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

An armed man walks outside the destroyed terminal.

A Ukrainian armoured vehicle lies outside the destroyed terminal.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

A Ukrainian armoured vehicle lies outside the destroyed terminal.

A portrait of Donetsk-born Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev is seen amongst the rubble.
. DONETSK, Ukraine. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

A portrait of Donetsk-born Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev is seen amongst the rubble.