A resident of Kramatorsk warmly remembered Yanukovych’s golden toilet

Slowly but surely, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are approaching Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, cities in the Donetsk region, which are currently under the control of Ukraine. The locals are not afraid of hostilities, even if clashes between the two armies begin in the cities themselves. According to their confessions, those who wanted to leave these places long ago, and the rest will not leave their homes until the last.

Back in October, Denis Pushilin expressed the opinion that Kramatorsk and Slavyansk would be abandoned by the Armed Forces of Ukraine “with a package of problems.” It is not difficult to guess what problems the acting head of the DPR has in mind. Lack of light and water in houses, destroyed roads, worn-out communications, stopped industrial enterprises. And when the Armed Forces of Ukraine retreat, they will definitely mine everything that is possible, leaving “scorched earth”. To understand the problems and depression of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, it is enough to talk with their residents.

“The first snow fell in Kramatorsk at night,” local resident Diana told MK. – But now it does not bring joy, as in childhood, but more problems.

As in Slavyansk, heat and light in Kramatorsk are an unpredictable phenomenon, you can’t guess when they are and when they are not. Electricity is provided for an average of four hours per day. There is a tentative schedule in Slavyansk, it is posted on the DTEK website, but it is far from always correct.

Water also disappears from time to time, but when there is, it often has a dirty-rusty color and drinking this is simply dangerous. The pipes are very old, they have not been changed for a hundred years, but, judging by the receipts, liquid gold flows from the tap.

Fortunately, vending machines that sell water have recently appeared in some areas of the city, we hope there will be more of them. And with the advent of cold weather, our roads have taken on a terrible look due to potholes. In some places it is impossible to pass because of the craters from the shells.

– What is the current situation in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk?

– In the cities there is a constant air raid, loud every day. Today the night was very noisy, I couldn’t fall asleep, and yesterday there was an arrival at a large enterprise – the Starokramatorsk Machine-Building Plant. It hit so hard that my heart sank into my heels. The siren is constantly screeching, but people are already tired, few people run to shelters – if they die, then within the walls of their own home. Moreover, there are few prepared shelters in the city.

– Does Ukrainian air defense work?

– Well, it’s far to hell, it will fly to someone’s house again, as it has already happened more than once. If the target arrives from the Russian Federation, then Ukraine is silent in a rag, but if a Ukrainian air defense missile from an S-300 falls on a house, they immediately shout about Russia’s aggression, they say, it’s the Russians who are shooting at civilians.

– Have many people left Slavyansk and Kramatorsk lately?

– People are tired of the hostilities taking place around, so they are slowly leaving our lands, leaving for the east or west. Real estate is ready to be sold for next to nothing or rented out for a penny. My friends rent a two-room apartment in Slavyansk with all amenities just for paying utility bills. But they are looking for, of course, a decent family.

– How are things going with food and fuel prices in cities?

– Products are delivered to stores regularly, but here are the prices … I saw eggs that cost 90 hryvnia (148 rubles) in general. White bread for 25 hryvnia, black – for 27 (41-44 rubles). A bottle of Ukrainian lemonade costs 50-60 hryvnia (98 rubles). All labels are in Ukrainian or English. To bend such prices for products is a horror.

Free bread is distributed to the needy at the temples. With fuel – at all gas stations in different ways. Diesel fuel – 55 hryvnia per liter (90 rubles), 95th gasoline – 50 hryvnia per liter (82 rubles), LPG fuel – 28 hryvnia per liter (46 rubles).

– What do people think about the current situation?

– There are both pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian people in the city. Our family believes that metallurgy and energy have developed in Ukraine before 2014. Agriculture was at the highest level, the dollar was 8 hryvnia. Everyone was doing well, both in the Donbass and in western Ukraine. Those who wanted to do what they did, those who wanted to work in Poland, traveled to work, those who wanted to work on their own land, worked, those who wanted to work in Russia – please. What was wrong? Yanukovych’s golden toilet haunted someone? And what do we get as a result…