In the East of Ukraine, though not intensive, but bloody battles continue, which for some reason remain almost invisible to the world. However, for residents of houses near the line of contact on both sides of it, in cities such as Maryinka and Avdeevka, where skirmishes are the most fierce, war remains a tangible and inevitable part of everyday life.

This is on the pages of the loyal to the Democratic Party edition of the New York Times writes Adrian Bonenberger.

The attacks begin usually in the morning, like an alarm clock, between 8 and 9 o'clock. Sniper rifles and assault rifles, large-caliber machine guns growl, and shells from grenade launchers shake deadly fields in Donbass. At night, heavy artillery and tanks force civilians to hide in their homes. But this also does not give the necessary protection. On May 13, four civilian Ukrainians died in the Ukrainian government controlled by Avdeevka because of artillery shelling by pro-Russian forces.

Roads and fields are dotted with mines: they were placed to cause more deaths and sow fear. In April, an American who works as a medic and provides assistance to civilians died, and two others were injured when a mine exploded under their car.

Continuous fighting especially hard affects the lives of about 800 thousand peaceful Ukrainians, who still live near or on the very front line. Of these, 100 thousand live in the so-called gray zone between the Ukrainian and Russian forces.

"We are afraid of calm. Because we know that they are accumulating forces for something more terrible, "Marinyki said vitally..

The windows in the house of this woman are clogged with metal sheets that protect from bullets and shrapnel. In Marinka live 5-7 thousand people. Before the war the population of the town numbered 10 thousand.

"Frontline cities such as Avdeevka and Maryina barely keep. And other settlements on the line of contact in even worse position. When I visited Experienced in August 2016, its population was only 13 people. This is a fraction of what was before the war, say the local. Many buildings were abandoned. One of them stank like a slaughterhouse. Former administrative premises were with holes in the floor and ceiling. Festive frescoes with episodes of rural life were razvaleny and faded. Centrifuges in the former agrarian laboratory were rusty, and birds nestled between rotten books and technical instructions in the former library. During the trip, I saw only a few people on the street, and an old woman cooked food on an open fire, "- describes the browser.

The author notes that this "underutilized" in the East of Ukraine has been going on for the fourth year. But US President Donald Trump could not at least slightly improve the weak policy of Barack Obama in stopping the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory.

"While the US president is distracted by the investigation of a special adviser regarding Russian intervention in the elections in 2016, President Vladimir Putin weighs the possibilities of Russia in Ukraine. The violence that continues, mixed with a series of recent killings and assassinations in Ukraine, does not benefit stability in the region. If Russia decides to embark on a broad invasion, this could escalate into a wider conflict in Europe. And 800 thousand peaceful Ukrainians who clench their teeth in silence between artillery shelling can turn into eight million, "reads the article.

Earlier, The Times wrote that the terrible crimes of the forgotten war in Ukraine come to the surface. The publication described how brutally Russian terrorists treat captured Ukrainian military and civilians. Many do not believe in the political conclusion of the war, but such a scenario would allow the exchange of prisoners to resume and launch a dialogue for reconciliation. However, this could mean an amnesty for the worst criminals of the conflict.

Mirror of the week.