Ukraine frontline town just wants 'peace and silence'

Ukraine frontline town just wants 'peace and silence'

Soledar has been under constant shelling for more than three months
Soledar has been under constant shelling for more than three months. Photo: Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Source: AFP

New feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find “Recommended for you” block and enjoy!

There is little left of Soledar. A church, a few food shops and an ironmonger in a basement.

Located right next to the front line, this mining town in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region -- where several thousand people still live -- has been under constant shelling for more than three months.

The terrifying sounds of explosions break the silence at regular intervals in the now ghostly town, whose name translates as "Gift of Salt" after a giant salt mine on the outskirts.

The mine, managed by Ukrainian company Artemsol, normally produces millions of tons a year and is also a tourist attraction known for its "fairytale salt sculptures" according to the brochures.

Soledar, which had 15,000 inhabitants before the war, is also known for an underground sanatorium to treat pulmonary diseases.

Read also

Outgunned Ukraine troops face brutal fight to regain south

That was before the invasion.

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see YEN.com.gh News on your News Feed!

Soldar found itself on the path of Russian troops pushing to take over the Donetsk region and came under fire from both sides.

The mine, struck several times, is now closed.

Many inhabitants have fled. According to the local residents who have remained, there are only some 2,000 people left fending for themselves.

There are only some 2,000 people left in Soledar
There are only some 2,000 people left in Soledar. Photo: Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Source: AFP

The houses along the main street are half destroyed or blackened by smoke.

The cultural centre has been destroyed and its ruins still smell of smoke. Papers can be seen scattered in the ruins and a phone handset lies on a desk.

"It happened on the night of July 9th to 10th. That night, a dozen missiles struck Soledar," said Tetyana, a woman walking past with her five-year-old daughter and 67-year-old mother.

Read also

In Ukraine's Siversk, a grave dug on a sidewalk

The centre burned for several days with no firefighters to extinguish the flames.

"There are no more local authorities, no police, no doctors, no pharmacy. Everyone has left. We've been abandoned," Tetyana said.

'I can't leave them'

Like an apparition, an elegant woman with short white hair walks along a deserted street with five cats.

Smiling but frightened, Lyudmyla explained that her husband is disabled and cannot move.

"And then there are the abandoned cats. I can't leave them," said the former schoolteacher, heading towards one of the few food shops left open.

The shop is supplied by volunteers who come twice a week, braving shelling and missile strikes.

Under the shop, in the basement, is a large ironmonger which has become a relatively safe meeting place for the town's inhabitants.

Residents come to buy gas canisters, nails, crockery and bed linen. It is one of the few places left where neighbours can interact.

Read also

Rhino orphans get new South African home  

Like in all the towns on east Ukraine's front line, those who stay cannot or do not want to evacuate
Like in all the towns on east Ukraine's front line, those who stay cannot or do not want to evacuate. Photo: Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Source: AFP

Yury, the 59-year-old shopkeeper, who has a long grey ponytail and wears a baseball cap and overalls, leans on his walking stick behind the counter.

Despite everything, his eyes still sparkle.

"If I let myself get depressed, it's not good for my old bones," he said.

But his gaze darkens when he talks about his two grandchildren aged eight and 12 who still live in Soledar.

What do they do with their days? "They create stress," sighed the grandfather.

He said he keeps them busy by building a heating unit with zinc plates "to prepare for winter".

'We are not separatists!'

Like in all the towns on east Ukraine's front line, those who stay cannot or do not want to evacuate.

"We just want to stay where we live. We are not separatists! Write this down -- we are not separatists!" Larysa, a former bank employee, leaning out from her balcony.

Read also

Five months on, anger and despair prevail in Donbas

Regional authorities regularly urge people to evacuate and those that remain are often considered as harbouring pro-Moscow views and awaiting the arrival of Russian troops.

Regional authorities regularly urge people to evacuate
Regional authorities regularly urge people to evacuate. Photo: Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Source: AFP

Sitting in front of her home, Liya Cherkashyna, 84, does not care about either side -- she just wants someone to fill five bottles of water for her from the town's one working pump.

Yesterday, someone promised to bring her water in exchange for a bottle of vodka which she does not have.

From her balcony, Larysa said: "We just want peace. And silence".

New feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.