After a week of fighting in Ukraine, the Russian army has taken possession of a first major city in the south, Kherson. Not far from this town, a Belgian is stranded. It is located in Mykolaev. It is 70km from Kherson. In the distance, Patrice, originally from Courcelles, hears the bombs falling. He knows that no one will come looking for him and that it is too late to flee.
Patrice had gone to Ukraine to get married. But he separated from his partner. He therefore had to return to Belgium today. Only, war broke out. He is stuck there without a solution to leave the country.
The station was bombed on Friday evening, so there are no more trains
“The station was bombed on Friday evening, so there are no more trains. Buses are banned from leaving the city, like taxis. And no one wants to take the risk of driving me to the border because There are looters on the roads. The roads are no longer safe since the police are defending the cities, they have other things to do”explains Patrice by videoconference.
To find a solution, the 65-year-old retired policeman is in daily contact with the mayor of his commune. “As soon as there is a possibility to help you leave, I’ll let you know and I’ll let you know very quickly”said the latter on the phone.
But for Patrice, hope is dwindling as the days go by: “I am fatalistic. I think. There is no one who is going to risk their life to come and save me, it would be stupid. So I understand the situation, that’s all and I have to step aside”he confides.
The bombings, I hear them… There are some every day
“Foreign Affairs takes over. And the contacts are there but it is impossible to go and find him, like to go and find other Belgians who have still stayed behind because anyone who makes the trip would put their own life in danger”specifies Caroline Taquin, the mayor of Courcelles.
For the moment, Patrice remains locked up in the apartment he rents in Mykolaev, only a few kilometers from the fighting. “The bombardments, I hear them. There were more last night. There are every day. Well, now that Kherson is taken, it has been confirmed by the Ukrainian authorities. So the troops who are located 20km from here, out of fuel, will be able to be refueled and attack the city”says Patrice.
His last hope is to be able to buy a car on the spot, to try to reach the border. His cousin is trying to raise money to help him.
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