Key Takeaways:
– Vovchansk, an industrial town near the Russian border, has been mostly destroyed due to heavy shelling.
– The current estimate shows 60% of the buildings are completely destroyed, 18% partially ruined, mainly in the city center.
– The city’s infrastructure including the medical schools, technical college, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and factories have been destroyed.
– Many residents have lost their homes and fled, while others are feared dead.
– Despite the tragedies, people are holding on to hope and resilience.
A Silent Town’s Devastation
Vovchansk, an industrial town positioned near the Russian border, is now a land of ruins. The Mayor, Tamaz Gambarashvili, revealed that 90% of the town’s center has been flattened. Notably, he mentioned that since this summer the condition has incredibly deteriorated and the enemies continue to shell the town.
The town, once bustling with activity, presents a tragic picture of debris. Six out of ten buildings in Vovchansk have been completely destroyed while 18% are partially ruined. The situation is grimmer at the city center, which has been practically levelled to the ground.
The Swift Vanishing of Vovchansk
Vovchansk had approximately 20,000 inhabitants before the war. Today, it exists primarily in the memories of those who managed to escape. The city had several esteemed institutions including a medical school, a technical college, and multiple kindergartens. Moreover, it proudly owned a regional hospital and an enormous hydraulic machinery plant, which acted as the city’s economic heart.
The city was a quick target for the Russian army after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. After a brief occupation, the city was retaken by Kyiv through a swift counter-attack. However, on May 10th, the calm was shattered.
The Fierce Offensive and Its Aftermath
After weeks of relentless fighting to the south, the Ukrainian 57th Brigade was near Vovchansk when they noticed two Russian armed troop carriers crossing the border. This was the start of one of the most intense Russian onslaughts since the onset of the war. The city had no fortifications or mines to delay the offensive.
Lieutenant Denys Yaroslavsky, revealed how, within two or three weeks, the destruction that took 2-3 months in Bakhmut was inflicted upon Vovchansk. Now, what they control is a pile of rubble.
Survivor Stories Emerge from the Rubble
Galyna Zharova and her husband Viktor were among those who were hit hardest. Their apartment on Stepova Street is now a pile of ruins. The pair described horrifying scenes of close-knit drone activity and a desperate escape by foot. The librarian, Nelia Stryzhakova, reeled from the loss of 125,000 books in the library. She mourned the fall of Vovchansk, a city that had everything.
Coping with a Personal and Public Loss
Alongside the physical destruction, the war also divides families and fosters enmity. Many families in eastern Ukraine have relatives in Russia. In Vovchansk, this divide is raw and painful now, as the ones known as kin turned into enemies.
The population has been ripped apart with many having lost homes and loved ones. However, amid this chaos, there are instances of resilience and resolve. Many survivors are yearning to return, rebuild their homes and reclaim their lives. While the loss is monumental, the human spirit seems stronger in its resilience.