Kyiv “Robinsons”: city residents decided to wait out the bombing in the partisan camp

The current missile strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on important targets in Kyiv have predictably provoked panic among the population of the Ukrainian capital. However, the most prudent hulks worried about their safety in advance in the event of such a development of events. Some of them decided to wait out the dangerous days in a secluded place at a decent distance from the main city of the country. As such a cache, the former partisan camp of the times of the Great Patriotic War came in handy.

Even at the very beginning of the military special operation in Ukraine, we wrote about the rush demand for underground shelters that arose among the wealthy part of Ukrainian society (“MK” on February 24, 2022 “Zelensky’s Bunker: underground shelters of wealthy Ukrainians are described”). However, for many, such a luxury – guaranteed to hide from missiles and shells under the strong vaults of dungeons – remains inaccessible. There is another option: to leave Kyiv, which, due to its capital status, can at any moment become a target for Russian missile systems.

Someone did just that. Some left the city altogether and moved to other regions of Ukraine and even abroad. Others preferred a less global version of change in their lives. Among the alternatives that they can take advantage of is a temporary stay in a forest camp, equipped by craftsmen in the wilds of the forest.

Information about such an exclusive project was shared with the correspondent of “MK” by one of the metropolitan “survivalist” specialists, whose relative lives on Nezalezhnaya and was just engaged in the implementation of this idea. My interlocutor agreed to share information only on condition of complete anonymity, so the names of real people were replaced with fictitious ones.

– I have a cousin Mikhail in Kyiv, who was actively involved in tourism. Back in the spring of this year, after the start of the first stage of the Russian special operation, many citizens panicked, expecting rocket and artillery strikes. Mikhail then quickly realized that the threat to life can be significantly reduced if you leave the capital’s quarters and hide for a while in a quiet place at a distance from the metropolis that has become dangerous.

Realizing that there would certainly be those wishing to take advantage of this option, the brother decided to equip a forest town for them. Here he came in handy with the information accumulated during the previous occupations in tourism.

Mikhail recalled that 50 kilometers west of Kyiv there is a large forest, in the depths of which a camp site for outdoor enthusiasts was built back in Soviet times. An interesting moment: the old-timers told tourists that during the war years, just on that clearing in the middle of the forest thickets, where this camp site was later built, there was a camp of one of the partisan detachments.

Shortly after the declaration of independence of Ukraine, the camp site was closed and quickly fell into complete disrepair. All the buildings turned out to be ownerless: this remote place did not attract anyone. Much was looted and taken away. And now Mikhail decided to adapt the ex-campus for temporary residence of refugees from Kyiv. Moreover, one of the main advantages of this object was to be its secrecy.

– We were regularly in touch with my brother, so I can quite well imagine the whole course of events from his words. The arrangement of the forest camp dragged on, requiring a lot of effort and money, so it was possible to prepare everything for the reception of clients only a few months later, when the inhabitants of Kyiv had already calmed down. However, the brother believed that in the future the situation could well change again and become very alarming, so he did not regret the costs that had to be incurred. Now it turns out how right he was.

Together with Mikhail, a whole team of reliable and experienced guys from among his former comrades-in-arms on camping trips worked there. They managed to restore, adapt at least for relatively comfortable living several houses of the former camp site. The camp is provided with water from a well equipped with a pump…

– What about electricity?

– There are several generators in the camp and a fairly significant supply of fuel for them.

“Ahead of us is a period of increasingly cold days. Will those who live in this forest “abode” freeze?

– Judging by the stories of my brother, the houses are well insulated. They have stoves or heaters that run on diesel fuel.

– Since this place is remote from other settlements, there may probably be problems with providing food and basic necessities living there …

– Some food supplies and other things were delivered to the camp in the summer. Those who decide to settle here will surely bring something with them …. Well, part of the supplies will have to be delivered during this “Robinsonade” …

– But what about ensuring the secrecy of this camp, which you mentioned?

– The territory of this forest town is actually practically inaccessible to outsiders. Now there is a small forest road leading there, along which only reliable jeeps can get through. And in addition, there is an insurmountable obstacle on this path – a ravine, at the bottom of which the stream has formed a very swampy place where any car will stall. However, a crossing is provided for the inhabitants of the camp. If necessary, wooden beams with tracks for automobile wheels, specially stored on the side of the camp, can be thrown across the ravine.

“What about the connection of the Robinsons with the outside world?

“They will have problems with that. Cellular networks in this wilderness are not caught. The only available option is the walkie-talkies that the organizers have. Through this channel, you can contact one of the organizers of the project, remaining on the “mainland”, and send messages through it.

– Now we live in a forest refuge camp?

“I know that just a couple of weeks ago there was only an officer on duty. But now, after the incident with the blowing up of the Crimean bridge and the “response” from our side, which “arrived” in Kyiv on the morning of October 10, most likely the clients with whom my brother had an agreement have already reached out. At least today, when I tried to talk to him, Mikhail managed to inform, although the connection was poor, that he was transporting people “to the base”. Who these people are and how many there are, I do not know.