Sometimes inanimate objects can be the most articulate record-keepers of events that pass in their presence. So is this flag that was survived the attack of Russian troops and mercenaries on the positions of Ukrainian troops in the town of Mariinka in Donetsk oblast, Ukraine.
Despite the deadly bombardment by Russian heavy artillery and multiple rocket launchers (5 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 39 wounded), the Ukrainian troops held their positions and captured 13 attackers.
Mariinka is just one of the Ukrainian towns attacked by Putin's forces. The map below shows locations of the other attacks.
