Seven years after Ukraine launched an “anti-terrorist operation” against Russian-backed separatist forces, fighting has never really stopped in the country's restive east. FRANCE 24's correspondent Gulliver Cragg visited the front line, near the government-held port city of Mariupol.
Wednesday, April 14, marks seven years to the day Ukraine launched a military operation against Russian-controlled forces in the eastern Donbas.
Ukrainian volunteers rushed to defend their country at the time. Some are still active on the front line – and apprehensive.
"Will there be an escalation? No one knows... Tensions rise, then calm down, then rise again," says Taira, a volunteer medic.
"We do have information, though, that the Russians are setting up field hospitals near the border with Ukraine, and that’s a pretty serious sign," she adds.
A strategic port, Mariupol was shelled by Russian-backed forces in 2015 and many here fear the city may once again be in Moscow’s sights.
Click on the player above to watch the report by Gulliver Cragg and Maria Varenikova.
