Caught in the crossfire

Caught in the crossfire

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A psychiatric hospital in Ukraine has been caught in the middle of the months-long conflict between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces.

On a recent day, the Psycho-Neurological Hospital in separatist-held territory near the rebel stronghold of Luhansk had no heating, no electricity, no running water. Artillery rounds could be heard a few miles away.

. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

Elderly women lie under blankets, wearing headscarves to keep warm. There is a strong smell of urine in the ward of a dozen beds. Younger patients in their 30s and 40s walk along dark corridors or sit on the floor.

Medical personnel and patients say they have not received their wages or pensions for more than six months.

. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

When temperatures dropped in November, the number of deaths in the hospital rose quickly.

Meals are cooked outside on an open fire and patients sometimes help cooks to chop firewood.

“We wake up, wash and then go and help our cooks. It's cold to sleep at nights. We sleep in our clothes," said Vyacheslav Shavkin, one of the less seriously ill patients.

. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

The hospital was running out of medicine, making the patients more aggressive at times, the nurses said.

"They cry, they go crazy and you can't do anything for them," nurse Svetlana Nechvolod said.

. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

Medical workers say the head of the hospital was killed by a shell in Luhansk and about half the 180 staff have fled. There were 400 patients when fighting began, they say.

At least one shell hit the backyard of the hospital a week ago. But the conflict is not what frightens them most.

"The most important thing is that everyone doesn't forget us," said Dmitry Shevshenko, a 33-year-old patient.

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Slideshow

Clothes hang to dry in front of the hospital.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

Clothes hang to dry in front of the hospital.

Patients cook food.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

Patients cook food.

A staff member holds a loaf of bread which is allocated for patients' meals.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

A staff member holds a loaf of bread which is allocated for patients' meals.

Lunch is laid out on a table in a patient’s room.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

Lunch is laid out on a table in a patient’s room.

A patient plays with canaries.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

A patient plays with canaries.

A woman poses for a picture inside the hospital.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

A woman poses for a picture inside the hospital.

People wait in a hallway in the hospital.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

People wait in a hallway in the hospital.

A patient sits on the floor of the hallway.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

A patient sits on the floor of the hallway.

A patient stands inside the hospital.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

A patient stands inside the hospital.

A patient sits in one of the wards.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

A patient sits in one of the wards.

A patient lies in a bed in one of the rooms.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

A patient lies in a bed in one of the rooms.

A woman mops the floor inside the hospital.
. Slovyanoserbsk, Ukraine. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

A woman mops the floor inside the hospital.