Without communication, drinking water and trust, but with the hope of the Armed Forces: How does Pokrovsk live now (photo)
Back in August, Pokrovsk clung to the illusion of a peaceful life in the rear as the front line was approaching. Several times a week the city suffered from chaotic shelling of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. People left, and shops and pharmacies closed. However, a few weeks ago, moms with young children and teenagers could be seen in the streets. Now, as noted in the media, the city has become a "pale shadow" of itself.
About a month ago, 48 thousand people lived in it, of whom 5 990 were children. Currently, it is only about 16,000 adults and 200 children. Earlier, Pokrovsk was a symbol of deep rear. There were servicemen here, they came to pick up parcels, go to the supermarket, repair the car, eat in the pizzeria and relax. The city also became the second home for many migrants who sought to stay closer to their temporarily occupied homes. Pokrovsk existed between the two worlds.
The local authorities, on the one hand, built a shelter, on the other - spent money from the budget on the rose bush in the center. Nowadays, these streets are hardly used, they can see units of cars in the afternoon, although the traffic lights continue to regulate traffic. Shop windows in Pokrovsk are closed by OSB-plates. On the boards of the ad you can find only one proposal - transportation. Those grocery and pharmacies that have not yet been closed work only a few hours a day.
The curfew in the city lasts most of the day - from 15:00 to 11:00 the next day. During this time, residents have time to go to the store, collect water, recharge the phone and make important calls. There are no communication, like electricity in some areas, so there are several kilometers to communicate with relatives. There are products in Pokrovsk, someone prepares food "on bricks", someone has stoves. However, it is impossible to prepare for several days without the refrigerator.
With water, the situation is more complicated - there are not many weeks drinking. Local are worn with water. The summer resident of the city said that the youth went away and the elderly remained. She explained that she did not know where to go and did not have such financial capacity. Another woman said she had already moved from the Crimea, then from Mariupol and for the third time - from the Metalist area bordering Mirnograd. Now it is not tuned somewhere.
"There is no home, there are no streets! All the roofs are punched. All the windows are made. Tired of running! . Pokrovsk continues to work utilities and take out garbage. Miners still go to work, although they cannot wash after the change, only if they bring water with them. Former Shakhtar Vasilyevich stated that he would go, "only if he pressed. " He explained that he worked in the mine for so many years and "made everything", so he does not want to lose everything.
According to him, "scary that is bush", but it is hoped that the defenders will stand. "To leave is one clothes to take, and you won't take everything. There is no such money to hire carriers. We need to have some power to throw everything," the pensioner emphasized. Pokrovskaya residents want to believe that the destroyed infrastructure can be restored. One woman was even indignant with the "such attitude. " She stated that the locals were "thrown specifically" to leave.
Other locals complained about the lack of resettlement. According to them, the locals are brought to the gym or stable for two weeks, and then asked for exit. Renting housing is not cheap, and for pensioners is not available. At the same time, journalists received a message with the hotline during stay in Pokrovsk. They explained that buses, including Pavlograd, from the city, from where you can leave the evacuation train. Migrants settle in the country in dormitories and private sector.
Volunteers said that they were even ready to give home to displaced persons for free. However, the doctor and volunteer Lyudmila Krivoshapka explained that the residents of Pokrovskaya were desperate. They raised money all their lives, working hard at the mine and losing health, and then lost everything, including trust. According to the cry, most often men and children are drawn to evacuate women.
They find who, where and how they will take out, what they will live in a new place, where they can get help and so on. We will remind, the officer with the call sign "Vlas" told that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation began to transfer additional reserves to the Pokrovsky direction. According to him, the enemy expects to seize Pokrovsk by the rainy season. Deepstate analysts informed that on September 21, Russian invaders advanced in Donetsk region.