A resident of Kramatorsk: "Trenches are being dug in the central square"

A resident of Kramatorsk: "Trenches are being dug in the central square"


How do the cities of Donbass, which are under Ukrainian control, live?

With a resident of Kramatorsk, for obvious reasons hiding his name, the correspondent of "MK" last spoke in May, immediately after the liberation of Krasny Liman by the Russian army. Today Slavyansk and Kramatorsk remain under the control of Kyiv. What difficulties do the inhabitants of these settlements face every day? What are they hoping for and what are they waiting for?

- Alexey (name changed), what is the current situation in Kramatorsk? The main question - how are things going with food? Are people not hungry?

- The situation as of September 22 is extremely tense. The city is heavily fortified. At crossroads, the central square, near residential buildings, trenches are being intensively dug.

The Ukrainian military occupy the empty premises of sports clubs, shops, salons, move into houses and apartments left by people, use the premises of hospitals and schools.

At the same time, residents are returning to the city. Compared to spring and early summer, there are significantly more of them. Residents are offered evacuation, they are promised support. But in reality, it is much more difficult for low-income people to survive in an evacuation than in their hometown.

We have markets, individual pharmacies, several supermarkets, snack bars and cafes. But only people in uniform can afford shawarma or pizza. Most residents live off humanitarian aid.

- Is there work in the city, or are plants and factories closed?

- Industrial enterprises are stopped, there is no work. Tries to keep trade and services. Recently resumed bus services to neighboring cities. On the last weekend of September, Kramatorsk celebrates City Day and Machine Builder Day. But this year there are no celebrations.

Fir trees and trenches - a typical urban landscape.





- Gas, electricity, water - are there at least some "benefits of civilization"?

- Residents have high expectations for the resumption of gas supply. Now the houses have water and electricity, and the gas supply depends on the main in Izyum, which was broken.

But, I think that it is still not realistic to return gas to houses. People stock up on potbelly stoves and firewood for the winter.

- Have the Ukrainian special services stepped up their activities?

- "The fight against spies" is given special attention. The police and the SBU are carrying out raids. Opposition-minded people or those seen in a disloyal attitude to the current regime in Ukraine are identified, delivered for conversations, phones are checked, correspondence and photographs are looked at. With me, such a conversation took place on the territory of one of the schools.

And here the windows are covered with sandbags.





“Man cannot live on bread and water alone. Are theaters and concert halls open? Or culture, in the opinion of the authorities, Kramatorsk residents do not need?

- Palaces of culture and clubs are currently closed. The premises are at best used as warehouses. Equipment has been evacuated or is in the process of being evacuated. Schools, including art schools, conduct classes with children remotely. Citizens try not to go out unnecessarily. After 4 p.m., the city is rapidly emptying.

- What then to expect and what to hope for?

- Kramatorsk is a place where full-fledged hostilities have not yet begun, but there is no peace anymore. There is an understanding that any development of the situation is likely. So the main goal is to survive and protect children.



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