![The race to evacuate Vovchansk's remaining residents](https://cdn.magzter.com/1588175420/1716519803/articles/papcCg8-R1716534726163/THE-RACE-TO-EVACUATE-VOVCHANSKS-REMAINING-RESIDENTS.jpg)
Evacuating the last remaining residents of Vovchansk, the town at the centre of Russia's recent offensive in Kharkiv region, becomes more dangerous with every passing day.
As fierce street battles between Russian and Ukrainian forces continue in the northern part of the town, local police and volunteers have been journeying in daily to evacuate the last, terrified residents out of a place that was once home to 18,000 people.
"We don't know how many people are left now, but we hope it's not more than 200," said Oleksiy Kharkivskyi, head of the Vovchansk police force, speaking last Friday morning in a nearby village.
The road into Vovchansk was under artillery fire at that very moment, he said. Dressed in military-style fatigues and with a pistol tucked into his body armour, Kharkivskyi's years of experience as a beat cop can hardly have prepared him for these rescue missions that require dodging drones and artillery fire.
The people who emerged from Vovchansk and the surrounding villages last Friday were mostly those who had planned to stick it out to the very end in their homes, but changed their mind when the intensity of the fighting became too much to bear.
Most of them were elderly, frail and deeply traumatised. They registered their identities with police and waited for a minibus that would take them to a hub for displaced people in Kharkiv.
This story is from the May 24, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 24, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![The Drugs Trade How Big Is The Problem-And Who Is Paying The Price?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/0J5SE9UDG1718344179110/crp_THE-DRUGS-TRADE-HOW-BIG-IS-THE-PROBLEMAND-WHO-IS-PAYING-THE-PRICE.jpg)
The Drugs Trade How Big Is The Problem-And Who Is Paying The Price?
Over the past 10 years, Europe has developed a serious cocaine problem. The drug, originating in the jungles of South America, is being transported, sold and consumed across the European continent in record amounts.
![Calamitous floods made more likely by global heating](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/jApHkTh5-1718355180959/CALAMITOUS-FLOODS-MADE-MORE-LIKELY-BY-GLOBAL-HEATING.jpg)
Calamitous floods made more likely by global heating
The unusually prolonged and extensive flooding that has devastated southern Brazil was made at least twice as likely by human burning of fossil fuels and trees, a study has shown.
![Paddington is back-and he's gone immersive](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/0HYzxLYC61718354911504/PADDINGTON-IS-BACKAND-HES-GONE-IMMERSIVE.jpg)
Paddington is back-and he's gone immersive
The bear from darkest Peru has donned his wellies and duffle coat for a live experience’ that is halftheatre, half-party, with lashings of marmalade
![Elections are a travesty of democracy-give the people a real voice George Monbiot](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/bl7kr3l5_1718354523504/ELECTIONS-ARE-A-TRAVESTY-OF-DEMOCRACYGIVE-THE-PEOPLE-A-REAL-VOICE-GEORGE-MONBIOT.jpg)
Elections are a travesty of democracy-give the people a real voice George Monbiot
Everything hangs on them but little changes. For weeks or months, elections dominate national life.
![Keeping the peace](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/BZcFLzdQ71718349018508/KEEPING-THE-PEACE.jpg)
Keeping the peace
Military service for 18-year-olds is a key Tory election pledge in the UK.But in countries with conscription, opting out comes at a cost. Michael Segalov asks seven conscientious objectors why they refused to serve in the armed forces
![How steroids got huge](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/WVDcFfKDg1718347965126/HOW-STEROIDS-GOT-HUGE.jpg)
How steroids got huge
Once upon atime, it was only hardcore bodybuilders who pumped themselves up with testosterone. Today it is no longer niche. But how dangerous is it?
![Tijuana border feels weight of Biden's order on closure](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/pfV9uiqG31718347622966/TIJUANA-BORDER-FEELS-WEIGHT-OF-BIDENS-ORDER-ON-CLOSURE.jpg)
Tijuana border feels weight of Biden's order on closure
Every year, waves of people from around the world make their way to southern California to start a new life and find safe harbour.
![Catania turns the tables on invasive blue crabs](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/pQUFrZr5l1718347495639/CATANIA-TURNS-THE-TABLES-ON-INVASIVE-BLUE-CRABS.jpg)
Catania turns the tables on invasive blue crabs
In a suburb of Catania on Sicily's east coast, smoke billows from street stands selling grilled horse meat, and youngsters gather around kiosks selling the region's unique handmade drink, seltz limone esale (seltzer with lemon and sea salt).
![Friends reunited Football and a troubled continent](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/q2FEVA9hB1718347083072/FRIENDS-REUNITED-FOOTBALL-AND-A-TROUBLED-CONTINENT.jpg)
Friends reunited Football and a troubled continent
Europe is suffering a crisis of identity but for four weeks the Euro 2024 tournament offers a kernel of something pure
![Could this be the end of the Tories?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1732406/Db4NR4BBQ1718346028010/COULD-THIS-BE-THE-END-OF-THE-TORIES.jpg)
Could this be the end of the Tories?
Even before last week, the party's prospects were grim. Nowsome believe it faces a wipeout that would reshape the UK political landscape