Recent airstrikes in the outskirts of Sloviansk, one of the last major cities under Ukrainian control in the Donetsk region, have resulted in seven injuries. These strikes, which damaged a five-story building, once again illustrated the harsh living conditions in the area. Since summer, Sloviansk has become a battleground, and its residents are constantly facing the dangers of war.
Everyday Life in Wartime
In a yard surrounded by damaged buildings, Tetiana, a retiree, has hung a dusty rug on the metal frame of a swing. She has stepped out of her debris-filled apartment to clean the rug. Tetiana, who was in the kitchen during the attack, recalls: "The bomb hit the second floor, and a woman living on the fourth floor was screaming." She adds that they were able to rescue her before that part of the building completely collapsed.
Despite offers for evacuation, Tetiana has not left Sloviansk. She says, "I don’t know where I should go." Rent can be as high as 400 euros ($449) per month, while her pension is only 67 euros ($75).
The Pain and Suffering of Residents
Days after the attack, the remaining residents in the damaged buildings were still cleaning their apartments when another strike occurred. This time, bombs hit a building housing a government emergency center and the Red Cross. Eight people were injured in this attack.
Natalia, a retiree who comes to the area to care for her twin sister, says: "I was on the balcony when I heard a loud explosion. I felt like someone had hit me on the head." She continues, pointing to the challenges of meeting her sister's needs, stating that despite her efforts to convince her sister to leave, she cannot leave her alone.
In the center of Sloviansk, the situation is dire. Of the city's 100,000 residents, only about 20,000 remain, most of whom are elderly and unable to leave. Public transport has been halted since the attack on two buses in Kramatorsk, where 30 people lost their lives.
Vasyl, a retiree from the village of Mayaki, sits in the city center and says: "We have gotten used to living under fire, but it is a bad habit." He wishes for peace for his land but rejects Vladimir Putin's demand to cede part of the Donetsk region to Moscow.
Meanwhile, Vladimir and other residents continue to live in unsafe conditions, holding onto hope for a return to normal days.
Read more: Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg
