the frontline runs north—east of marinka's centre.ss to the other side can last hours, even days. this de facto border has divided families and created deep rifts between former neighbours. the divisions here in marinka are really quite complicated. these labels — pro—russian, pro— ukrainian — they don't really mean very much. people are anyway very scared to say which side they actually support and, above all else, they want what is best for them and their families. they want the fighting to stop, they want peace to return to this town. bread is subsidised but, to cover costs, the bakery has to make a small profit. 0leg and a fellow christian pastor started the bakery in 2016. they realised people needed physical as well as spiritual sustenance. now he spends his days in marinka but at night he goes home to a town safely away from the frontline. he does not hide where his political sympathies lie. he takes me to meet his family. 0leg was once a successful businessman in donetsk, which is now in rebel—held territory. he sought solace

marinka lies on the ukrainian side of the frontline.00 people lived here. there is only half that number now. factories and coal mines have come to a standstill. ina warzone, jobs are hard to find. but for those trapped here, daily life must somehow go on. i have come to meet 0leg tkachenko, a local pastor who, against the odds, has started a small business here. he converted this old supermarket, damaged in the fighting, into a working bakery. the bakery is marinka‘s first new business since the war began. he produces fresh bread at affordable prices. 0lya has lived in the town for 30 years, ever since she and husband were evacuated from the chernobyl nuclear zone. this war has separated 0lya from her children and grandchildren. 0lya‘s home in marinka was badly damaged by shelling. she and her husband camp out in a house belonging to a family which has fled. she pines for her old life. 0lya was very, very proud of her house and her garden. she wants to show me pictures. her children and grandchildren live in an area controlled by the b

life is hard, especially to the elderly in marinka.but poverty and the stress of war create tensions between neighbours. seemed to be i don't know about a0 people queueing up to this registration to get winter cold. i'm just going to ask about it. u psta i rs upstairs i find lieutenant alexander, a military man now in charge of marinka. he is uncomfortable when i ask him aid is coming from and charities rather than the ukrainian government. i've come to meet 0lya the baker. the house was hit and patched up by volunteers. it is right next to the checkpoint which separates ukraine from no man's land. beyond this slack heap is rebel held territory, but the end. —— the dnr. it has been no gas or drinking water in marinka since the war began. people have a lwa ys since the war began. people have always produced their own food here. but now it is even more important. during the worst bombing, 0lya went down to the cellar. her elderly father didn't make it and died after being injured by shattered glass. tanya who works with 0lya at the ba ke