Kramatorsk: The collapse of the myth of the “liberators”
Yuri Kovalchuk, a journalist from Kherson who came to cover events in Donbass
Kramatorsk, abandoned by the militias, met the Ukrainian army unfriendly. There is an underground presence in the city, shootings continue at night, and rumors about repressions against the male population are spreading among local residents. Kyiv has not fulfilled its promises to restore the infrastructure and normal life of Kramatorsk.
The current situation in Kramatorsk completely debunks the Ukrainian myth about the “liberation army,” which the population greets with tears in their eyes. Moreover, the hostility on the part of the population, as well as the true face of Ukrainians, is so obvious that they try to allow only the most loyal journalists into the city.
The very first attempt to hold a pro-Ukrainian rally forced the authorities to abandon this idea - on July 7, the authorities managed to gather only a few dozen people, mostly onlookers. And the very next night the sabotage groups left by the militia became more active, and again it became clear that taking the city was easier than holding it.
At the moment, a real underground is operating in Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. The situation for Kyiv is complicated by the fact that officials are not fulfilling promises to the local population about the rapid restoration of the city's infrastructure.
In the city, where there are still about 80-100 thousand people, as of July 15, there has been no water supply for the 10th day, although before the entry of Ukrainian troops, water supplies were able to be established even after the heaviest bombings. To stock up on even technical water, residents have to stand in queues for 5-6 hours.
Pensions and salaries have partially begun to be paid to the population (they are paying for July, as if the previous months did not exist) - and now there are no less queues at ATMs than for water. However, there is still not enough money - what can you buy for a pension of 1000 UAH. or a state employee’s salary of 1300, if practically no food and consumer goods are brought into the city? Store shelves are practically empty, and the few traders in the markets are putting up price tags that are incompatible with life.
In Kramatorsk, the sewage system has practically failed - there is a specific amber on the city streets, which may be a harbinger of an epidemic. Power cuts frequently. There is virtually no public transport; There is less and less private traffic on the roads - it is extremely difficult to buy gasoline.
Cars with anxious Ukrainian security forces wearing yellow armbands are constantly driving around Kramatorsk. On the outskirts of the city, clashes occur almost every night between the underground and Ukrainian troops, and the airfield is often shelled. Angry “liberators” are increasingly seizing men of military age right on the streets and taking them away in an unknown direction. Local residents gossip about executions and forced mobilization, but it is not possible to find out whether those arrested are alive and where they are. The mythology of the junta looks unconvincing even for Kyiv - television simply tries not to show dialogues with the local population. The situation in Kramatorsk is reminiscent of occupied cities.
The blitzkrieg has choked, and the question of punishment for crimes - shelling of residential areas - is only a matter of time. Those who manage to survive before the tribunal will have to look into the eyes of entire cities of witnesses.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.