On the line of separation in eastern Ukraine

A militant of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic is seen at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in the outskirts of Kirovsk in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, December 1, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

A militant of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic walks at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in the outskirts of Kirovsk in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, December 1, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

A militant of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic rests at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in the outskirts of Kirovsk in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, December 1, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

Buildings of the Regional Psychiatric Hospital, damaged during fights between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces in 2014, are seen in the village of Semenivka, Ukraine, November 26, 2021. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Local resident Victor Luksha, 31, walks past his family's property damaged by shelling, in the rebel-controlled town of Horlivka (Gorlovka) near Donetsk, Ukraine, November 24, 2021.  REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

Local resident Angelica, 49, carries a broken door for firewood at an abandoned building of a coal mine, in the rebel-controlled town of Horlivka (Gorlovka) near Donetsk, Ukraine, November 24, 2021.  REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

Local residents Angelica, 49, and her daughter Anastasiya, 13, collect furniture parts for firewood near an abandoned building of a coal mine, in the rebel-controlled town of Horlivka (Gorlovka) near Donetsk, Ukraine, November 24, 2021. ...more

Local resident Irina Studenikina, 42, poses inside her house, which was damaged by shelling, in the rebel-controlled town of Horlivka (Gorlovka) near Donetsk, Ukraine, November 24, 2021.  REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

Local resident Victor Luksha, 68, stands next to his family's property damaged by shelling, in the rebel-controlled town of Horlivka (Gorlovka) near Donetsk, Ukraine, November 24, 2021.  REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

Women walk in the village of Staromarivka located on the separation line that divides Ukraine between government-controlled territory and the enclave controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine, November 23, 2021. ...more

A woman stands on a road in the village of Staromarivka located on the separation line that divides Ukraine between government-controlled territory and the enclave controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine, November...more

Local resident Evgeniy Lysak, 42, inspects his house, which locals said was damaged during recent shelling, on the outskirts of the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine, October 21, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

A militant of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) stands inside an abandoned house near fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, July 16, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander...more

Militants of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) stand guard at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, April 13, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

Service members of the Ukrainian armed forces look at a cat at fighting positions on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels near Donetsk, Ukraine, April 10, 2021.  REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko

Volodymyr, a member of the Ukrainian armed forces, plays with puppies in a trench on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk region, Ukraine, April 10, 2021.  REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko

A service member of the Ukrainian armed forces is seen at fighting positions on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk region, Ukraine, April 10, 2021. REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko

A militant of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) is reflected in a mirror at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, April 21, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

A militant of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) uses periscopes while observing the area at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, April 21, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander...more

A service member of the Ukrainian armed forces is seen inside an armoured vehicle at fighting positions on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels in Shyrokyne in Donetsk Region, Ukraine, April 21, 2021. REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko

A service member of the Ukrainian armed forces chops wood at fighting positions on the line of separation near the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine, April 21, 2021. REUTERS/Serhiy Takhmazov

Service members of the Ukrainian armed forces drive armoured vehicles at fighting positions on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels in Shyrokyne in Donetsk Region, Ukraine, April 21, 2021. REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko

Service members of the Ukrainian armed forces drive an armored vehicle at fighting positions on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels in Shyrokyne in Donetsk Region, Ukraine, April 21, 2021. Picture taken through a window. REUTERS/Oleksandr...more

A militant of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) holds a weapon at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, April 21, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

A service member of the Ukrainian armed forces cleans a weapon at fighting positions on the line of separation near the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine, April 21, 2021. REUTERS/Serhiy Takhmazov