Ravaged east Ukraine village reveals cost of war

A stuffed toy horse hanging from a gate reminds visitors that the war-ravaged eastern Ukraine village of Logvinove, now held by pro-Russian separatists, was once bustling with life.
But this rural hamlet paid the ultimate price last month after a months-long siege ended with rebels wresting control of the strategic town of Debaltseve, five kilometres (3.1 miles) away along a scarred road littered with burnt-out cars.
Since that final battle, which raged despite the signing of a ceasefire last month, both sides have watched each other warily across a new frontline, 3km from the village.
The village of 30 homes, on a road leading to Debaltseve, became the theatre of fierce fighting with the launch of the final offensive. Every footstep bears witness to the chaos, sinking into the soft ground while dodging craters.
The corpse of a black dog, mouth half-open, lies in the doorway of a gutted house, adding to the village's stench of decay.
"Some people came back to see what's left of their homes," explained rebel Roman, 25. A look across the village reveals the answer to be "very little".
An overturned jar of salted cucumbers, school notebooks and a loaf of homemade bread still sit in the pantry of a house on the edge of the village, hinting at life before war arrived.
Outside, a card printed with a prayer to the Virgin Mary lies abandoned behind what remains of the house's gate.
Rebel fighter "Tianchan" (his nom de guerre), who claims to be from Uzbekistan, says the village was historically inhabited by Cossacks.
"On February 11, we took the village. When the fighting started, a 67-year-old woman was burnt alive," said the fighter, his face partially hidden by a green bandana and sunglasses.
"We evacuated 70 wounded. It's the Ukrainian army that did all this," he said scathingly.
- Tanks, shells and ammunition -
The rebels have established checkpoints that can only be crossed under their escort, and set up base among the ruins, without disturbing the remaining relics of pre-conflict reality.
Several tanks are visible, partly hidden in bushes around the remaining houses. Piles of ammunition crates sit next to a dozen shells, neatly lined up against a fence and ready for action.
"These are shells taken from the Ukrainian army," said Roman, gun on his shoulder.
"We are defensively positioned to prevent the Ukrainians from coming," he added, above the sound of distant explosions.
"I don't feel tired. We suffered a lot of deaths and I don't want it all to be for nothing."
Villagers had little time to flee, leaving behind their dogs, which roam the streets and sniff at their owners' clothes, strewn on the ground.
A rebel by the name of "Kot", or Tomcat whistles at one of them, a German Shepherd, encouraging it to respond to its new name, "Max".
Leaving the village, a sign reading "Children crossing" remains on a shattered school-bus shelter. Next to it, a wooden sign warns "Mines".
A charred tank has been abandoned nearby. The sound of birdsong serves as the only reminder that spring has arrived.