Kramatorsk under fire: a once-bustling city now nearly deserted

Russian forces are systematically destroying Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian city now nearly deserted, through relentless attacks on civilian infrastructure, according to a report by journalist Yan Dobronosov. The enemy is attempting to make the city uninhabitable. As of September 3, Russian positions are just over 16 kilometers from Kramatorsk. The city's streets are littered with building debris, multi-story facades show fire damage, and FPV drones constantly circle overhead despite anti-drone nets. Residents who remain try to live normally, but burned-out cars, spontaneous memorials, and destroyed shops and pharmacies mark the devastation. Ukrainian forces continue to defend the city, where roses bloom and the Ukrainian flag flies in the center. Dobronosov noted he had to take cover from enemy drones about ten times during his work, adding that the city would be hard to recognize for anyone who hasn't visited recently.