Ukraine

Frontline Ukrainian village braces for winter after months of war

Published

4 years ago

November 11, 2022

After eight months of war which has decimated their frontline village in eastern Ukraine, Huliaipole residents are preparing for the next big battle - this winter.

Natalia, a sixty-year-old woman, sleeps in a basement with her neighbours. Their beds are stacked side-by-side with little space between them.

Although the conditions are difficult and there is no electricity available, they have survived by living in a cramped basement.

Natalia touched one of the beds and said "I sleep here." She pointed to the other beds and said: "Here is my neighbour sleeping. Here are two more neighbours. Vera is the fifth person who sleeps here. So that's it for now."

She said that her grandchildren were there during the initial stages of Russia's 24 February invasion.

"The children slept against a wall even though there weren't beds back then. We brought blankets, pillows, and carpets. While we were sitting on the benches, we put our children against the wall. We were subject to heavy bombardment back then."

She said that fresh water is either provided by the fire brigade, or drawn from a nearby well.

"At first we cooked on an open fire. Now, we have gas. We bought a gas canister but need to save it," she explained.

'CONSTANT SHELLING'

Huliaipole belongs to the Zaporizhzhia Region, which Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed he annexed at September's end. This move was condemned by Kyiv as well as its Western allies.

Although many buildings were destroyed and many people fled, the village has not been occupied at any time by Russian forces. The village is constantly under attack by the sound of the shelling.

Now pockmarked is a white sign welcoming visitors with a red heart declaring that "I (love?)Huliaipole".

"The winter begins and it is very cold," Benjamin, a German volunteer who works with aid workers to help residents prepare for winter, said.

Wood stoves were provided by aid workers before winter, when temperatures can plummet to minus zero Celsius.

"We are constantly under constant shelling without heating." Raisa Alferova (57-year-old paramedic) said that the conditions are extremely harsh and difficult for her work.

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