SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Iryna sits next to the body of her mother Raiisa, who passed away due to a prior illness during a civilian evacuation, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 12, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Until a couple of weeks ago, things were quiet in the town of Chasiv Yar, despite being just a few kilometres from one of the fiercest frontlines of the war in eastern Ukraine.
Then an explosive projectile crashed into the Akusov family's yard, destroying an outdoor toilet and damaging the roof and windows of their home. The family decided it was time to leave.
But there was more tragedy ahead: Raissa Akusova, 75-year-old grandmother and matriarch of the family, died on the road. Her loved ones think she suffered a heart attack.
Serhii Akusov, with his son Oleksandr, helps his mother-in-law Raiisa, 75, to stand up during a civilian evacuation, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 12, 2023. Raiisa passed away later on due to a prior illness during the evacuation. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
A Reuters team including photographer Marko Djurica had accompanied volunteers from a charity to Chasiv Yar that day. The charity workers carried with them addresses of residents who sought help evacuating as Russian troops neared.
When they arrived outside the family's home, Djurica said it was clear that Akusova was feeling very unwell. She leaned on her son-in-law's arm and had to take rests as she made her way slowly to the charity's waiting minibus.
"While she was walking, the grenades were falling," Djurica said. "You could hear outgoing and incoming artillery near us in the area. It was bad. Somehow she managed to get into the bus."
Serhii Akusov, with his son Oleksandr, helps his mother-in-law Raiisa, 75, to walk during a civilian evacuation amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 12, 2023. Raiisa passed away later on due to a prior illness during evacuation. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Chasiv Yar has been shelled heavily in recent days as Russian troops work to cut off routes to the nearby city of Bakhmut, almost a year on from their Feb. 24, 2022, invasion.
The minibus set off to take Akusova and others to an evacuation centre in the city of Dnipro. As her condition worsened, charity workers first searched for a doctor in Chasiv Yar. They then raced southwest to a hospital in the city of Kostiantynivka, where she was pronounced dead.
"They took her out of the minibus and they put her in the morgue," Djurica said. "The grandson was crying, her daughter was crying. It was emotional."
Serhii Akusov helps his mother-in-law Raiisa, 75, to walk during a civilian evacuation, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 12, 2023. Raiisa passed away later on due to a prior illness during the evacuation. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
With her body in the care of the doctors in Kostiantynivka, the minibus then continued on its journey to Dnipro.
(Reporting and photography by Marko Djurica; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Serhii Akusov, with his wife Iryna and their son Oleksandr, helps his mother-in-law Raiisa, 75, to walk during their evacuation, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 12, 2023. Raiisa passed away later on due to a prior illness during evacuation. REUTERS/Marko Djurica Oleksandr, whose grandmother Raiisa, 75, passed away due to a prior illness during a civilian evacuation, cries inside a bus amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 12, 2023. REUTERS/Marko DjuricaIryna holds the body of her mother Raiisa, who passed away due to a prior illness during a civilian evacuation, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 12, 2023. REUTERS/Marko DjuricaVolunteers and medical staff help to carry the body of Raiisa, who passed away due to a prior illness during a civilian evacuation in Chasiv Yar, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 12, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
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