In the areas of Donbás still controlled by Ukrainethe population flees from this region in the east of the country fearing the arrival of the Russian steamroller and hundreds of women, children, elderly, waited this weekend for a train at the Kramatorsk station.
“Since this weekend, regarding 2,000 people embark daily to the west, to Lviv or another” city, says Nasir, a humanitarian volunteer who came to help in the operation.
At the neat little train station, whose façade has just been painted red and white, there were usually two three a day, now there are four.
“We men stay, our families leave,” says Andréi, whose wife and two children wait patiently, their suitcases perched at their feet.
The next Mariupol?
Since Russia announced that he wants to “concentrate his efforts on the liberation of Donbas”, this eastern region, the historic mining area of Ukrainelives with the anguish that there will be a great Russian offensive.
Kiev he fears the situation will worsen as Russian forces try to encircle the Ukrainian army.
Ukrainian troops have been deployed since 2014 along the front that borders Donetsksouth, and Luganskto the east – capitals of the two self-proclaimed pro-Russian separatist “republics” -, and which goes to Izium, in the northwest.
Kramatorsk, de facto regional capital since October 2014 of the territory still under the control of Kievis located in the center of this dangerous area, and might be besieged by Moscow troops.
“According to the latest information, Russia is bringing its troops to the east, and soon we will be surrounded,” worries Viktoria, a “Humanitarian Assistance” doctor, according to the credential she wears on her chest.
She hopes that the Ukrainian army will withdraw.
“This is where the next Mariupol might take place,” he warns, referring to the besieged and bombed-out port facing the Sea of Azov.
Kramatorsk, located in the Don Basin, before the war more than 150,000 inhabitants. The war has not yet arrived here, the situation is calm but the streets are deserted, too quiet, perhaps fearing the arrival of a storm.
“The bombardments can start at any time,” says Andrei.
For her part, Svetlana says in a whisper: “Rumors say that something terrible is going to happen here.”
“My city is going to need me”
On the platform, to the right, families with small children. On the other side, older people, single women, including another woman named Svetlana, with a bag full to the brim in one hand, her fox-terrier dog in the other.
Mika’s legs are shaking, “he realizes that something is happening” says his owner, who travels to Rivne, 300 km west of kyiv, where some friends have found an apartment for him.
“Really, we’re scared. I’ve waited until the last moment, but it’s time to go,” he adds.
A little further away, a soldier hugs his daughter, with blonde braids and a pink outfit. “Our children are our treasures” whispers a father.
The Ribalko family, with their two grandmothers dressed in woolen hats, talk on a bench with their hands resting on their bags. A small child eats a chocolate, the older one runs among the adults. A Siamese cat sleeps in the package of a “Smart-dog” robot, converted into a cat basket.
“Until the last moment we wanted to stay, but with the children, it’s very dangerous,” says Tamara, one of the matriarchs. “It is said that the front is going to reach here. I don’t want to believe it. My husband is staying, he likes his house too much, his dogs, his garden.”
The train arrives, ten blue cars heading for Khmelnitsky, 800 km to the west, 14 hours of travel. The crowd moves, channeled by the volunteers.
“In normal time, there are four people per compartment, but now there are eight, that is, regarding 700 passengers,” details the head of the train Sergey Popatienko
In a few minutes, everyone is on board. A hug, a fleeting kiss, the hand of a child glued to the glass by way of goodbye.
“Why do I stay?” reflects Ivan, Tamara’s husband, with his calloused farmer’s hands, his bushy eyebrows. “My city is going to need me, without a doubt. I was born here, I have lived here. We are going to wait for these bad times to pass.”
(AFP information)
OUR PODCASTS
Representative of Ukraine asks Peru to take measures once morest Russia – DNA Interviews
One month following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, a global rejection reaction is necessary to stop Vladimir Putin, said Rostyslav Yavorivskyi, Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Peru.
