Photo by Brendan Hoffman hoffmanbrendan | With a foggy backdrop, a pair of swans swim in a pool of water pumped out of the Shcheglivska coal mine to prevent flooding, in Makiivka, Ukraine. The coal industry is a major part of the economy and the main reason this part of eastern Ukraine, often referred to as Donbas, was industrialized in the 19th century. Now the area is better known for the ongoing war and potential escalation that has dominated the news recently. Having made my home in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, for eight years, the thought leaves me with a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Follow me hoffmanbrendan for more stories from Ukraine and elsewhere. #ukraine #donbas