Trains no longer run to Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region - part of the Donbas claimed in its entirety by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. It's another sign of the steady Russian advance.
Instead, the last station is now on the western side of the Donetsk border. This is where civilians and soldiers wait for a ride towards relative safety - their train to get out of Dodge.
Putin has been sounding more bullish since the leak of US proposals to end the war, widely seen as being in tune with his maximalist demands. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says territory remains the most difficult issue facing US-led peace talks.
At the last station on the line, soldier Andrii and his girlfriend Polina are parting after an all-too-brief time together. Andrii has to return to the front and they don't know when they'll see each other again.
He laughs when I mention peace talks, which have seen Donald Trump's envoys speak to Ukrainian negotiators before heading to Moscow, and dismisses them as chatter, just chatter. He doesn't think the war will be over soon.
There is scepticism, too, among other soldiers who board the train west for a brief respite from the fighting. They are taking some of their 20 days of leave. Most look exhausted.
Russian forces now control some 85% of the Donbas, made up of Luhansk and Donetsk. On Tuesday they claimed to have captured the key strategic town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk. Ukraine said fighting was continuing in the city.
Denys, who has been serving in the Ukrainian army for the past two years, tells me everyone's drained, everyone's tired mentally and physically.
Nobody will give Putin the Donbas. No way, it's our land, he asserts firmly.
Although US officials suggest Ukraine is outnumbered and outgunned, citizens await refuge from conflict. An influx of civilians escaping the Donbas continues as dozens arrive at reception centers in Lozova.
Yevheniy, arriving with his family from Kramatorsk, highlights the escalating risks, stating, It's getting harder and harder to even go outside. His sentiment reflects the uncertainty many feel about the ongoing negotiations.
In stark contrast, Oleksandr appears willing to trade territory for peer, emphasizing safety over home. His perspective reflects the difficult choices faced by countless families, torn between the desire for peace and the loyalty to their homeland.
While some soldiers desert, others remain torn faced with the oppressive reality of the conflict. Serhii, hiding from the authorities, encapsulates this sentiment, reflecting upon the impossibility of sustaining the fight against overwhelming odds.
Despite the pronounced feelings of fatigue and despair, the resolve of Ukrainians remains resilient; they steadfastly cling to the hope for peace while navigating the complexities of warfare.
