‘A lot of pain’: The battle of firefighters on Ukraine’s frontline

BAKHMUT, 02 January 2023, (TON): In the war-torn Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the chief of a small group of firefighters lines up his small team in front of the national flag, and wishes them a happy new year.

For the nine stationed permanently in the city centre fire station, it has been a year of war and fire. They are posted in the eastern region of Donetsk where Bakhmut has become the epicentre of fighting.

But their chief Oleksiy Migrin, jovial and good-natured, does not often complain.

“The year 2022 has been tough on a personal level, and tough for Ukraine,” he tells the team.

“Take care of yourself, remember that your families are waiting for you. Next year we will win.”