Ukraine troops withdrew from the embattled town of Debaltseve in the country's east Wednesday after rebels claimed control of the strategic location.
Drone footage shows the impact of widespread shelling on the town. The snowy landscape is pockmarked with areas of impact. Debatlseve is a transportation center for the region, with a vital railway connecting the separatist strongholds of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko denied claims that the troops were encircled, asserting that Ukrainian soldiers left the city in "an organized and planned manner." Thousands of Ukrainian troops had been battling with Russia-backed rebels over the town since last summer.