Lying in a hospital with shrapnel wounds to his leg, 71-year-old Oleksandr has been evacuated from the war-torn eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. Despite his injury and the ongoing shelling of the city, Oleksandr remains resolute - once recovered, he intends to return, even if Russian forces succeed in their attempt to encircle the town. Pavel Fomenko, another Avdiivka resident being treated in the facility, shares a similar sentiment. "Home is better, I know my city" he says. Evacuations from the city have increased since October 10, when Russia began a massive assault, and are often conducted under fire. "Cluster munitions were exploding next to us" recalls Genadiy Yudin, a member of the 'White Angels' volunteer group that drives regularly to Avdiivka. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES