The industrial heart of Ukraine lies in ruins. Donetsk bears half of the war damage

According to the Unian agency, the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine has become the bloodiest symbol of the ongoing war. Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, the fiercest fighting has taken place here, and developments on the front line are seen as an indicator of the success of both sides.

During the conflict, Ukraine has already lost control of about 70 percent of this region. Soldiers defending Donetsk report destroyed cities and lives.

The region around the city of Donetsk, which was once home to more than four million people, was an important industrial and economic center of the country. Today, it is one of the most devastated areas and, according to the Kyiv School of Economics, accounts for almost half of the $14.4 billion in damage to Ukrainian businesses, reports the AP news agency.

According to the International Organization for Migration, almost a quarter of all internally displaced persons in the country come from Donetsk. For most of them, the hope of returning to their homeland is currently just a distant dream.