Residents of the city of Orikhiv in southeastern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region continue to live on humanitarian aid distributed in the region, amid intense Russian attacks.
In Orikhiv, located only 8 kilometers (4.9 miles) from the front line, the scars of the Russia-Ukraine war run deep more than a year after it began, as electricity, natural gas, and water services remain cut off due to the severe damage to infrastructure in and around the city.
Orikhiv’s remaining residents must regularly venture into the city in fear of the intense Russian attacks to reach distribution centers for humanitarian aid before returning to their homes as quickly as possible.
“We live in difficult conditions. The situation has been the same for a year, but I don’t intend to leave and go anywhere,” said Sergey, a 50-year-old resident who did not want to give his surname.
Sergey told Anadolu in an interview that civilians tend not to leave their homes as they do not know when and where the next attack will take place.
Valodya Chubenko, a 73-year-old resident, also spoke to Anadolu, saying that the city has suffered heavy artillery attacks due to its proximity to the front.
“They open fire in this direction daily. Attacks happen almost every day. The atmosphere has been a little calmer for the last two or three days, but generally, the situation is heavy,” Chubenko said.
He added that the distribution of humanitarian aid was crucial for the population due to the lack of electricity, water, and gas for the past seven months.
Tatiana Halchenskaya, another resident, told Anadolu that she preferred to stay at her home in the city, even though it was dangerous.
“As a woman, it’s difficult to live under these attacks, but we’re strong and this city will survive as long as we stay in Orikhiv,” she said.
Now in its second year, the Russia-Ukraine war has so far killed more than 8,100 civilians, with nearly 13,500 more wounded, according to the latest UN figures.
Source: Anadolu Agency