Ruslan, a former salt miner turned soldier, once said, “Salt gave us work and salt gave us life.” He was working in one of Europe’s largest salt mines, 1,000 feet below the earth, when the Russians launched their full-scale invasion. After almost a year of fighting near the ruined city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, the Russians took control of his nearby hometown, Soledar, and the mine with it.
“I can’t even describe that feeling now,” Ruslan said when asked to recall how he felt when Soledar was lost. “Everything dear to me, everything I loved, worked for, and dreamed about was shattered in an instant.”
Soledar, which means “gift of salt,” fell in January, allowing the Russians to step up their assault on Bakhmut, about 40 miles to the south. The small town, with only 10,000 residents before the attack, also held a special place in Ukraine’s economy and…
2023-04-27 02:55:16
Original from www.nytimes.com