What's most striking about the group is their age.

They're in their forties and fifties.

Ukraine is running out of soldiers.

In some battles they're outnumbered four to one.

The military is recruiting whoever is able.

Everyone is worried.

No one knows but God what will happen to us tomorrow.

This group will deploy to the most consequential skirmish this year, the battle for Pokrovsk.

I think it would be better if we concentrated our forces completely on the defence of this front.

Taking the town of Pokrovsk is strategically important for Russia.

That's because this road is the only one in and out of Dnipro, a key transport and logistics hub in Ukraine's industrial heartland.

We'll evacuate three people.

Two with limited mobility and the third who can walk more or less.

The advance has forced tens of thousands to flee.

This evacuation crew, East SOS, enter the city each day to make sure the sick and elderly get out.

This family trying to escape to Kiev.

I hope they won't take the city because if they do, nothing will be left of it, like the other cities they reached.

As the frontline approaches, the desperation grows, laden with possessions hundreds raced to get the last train out of town.

Pain, tears and despair, but we hope for the best.

It's sad.

I don't want to leave.

We said goodbye to our parents, but we hope to see them again.

The displaced are being taken to larger cities further west, including Dnipro.

There was no power for a month.

I had some ingredients for food, but I couldn't cook it.

Before here, I did not eat anything at all for ten days.

Every morning I opened the house and there was a fog from shelling.

The residents here want to return home.

They're just not sure what will be left.

Catherine Diss, ABC News, Pokrovsk.