War Diary: "The shooting does not stop, there is not enough bread in the shops"

27.07.2014

I, as usual, was cleaning – sweeping the road of our city center. I'm still a cleaner (I really want to have  another job). There were attacks on the city of Debaltseve, and we heard this horror, it seemed, so close, almost nearby.

"People were given the opportunity to leave, and on this day many refugees came to our city: some of them came by cars, some of them came by motorcycles. A lot of people who didn't have transport were walking. The dogs were running after their owners. It was creepy. People gave up everything they had gained by backbreaking work on the ground, because life is more expensive".

Since I was on the road in an orange vest, I was asked where to rent an apartment, where the hotel or the hostel was. Some of them were taken to the hospital with injuries. I looked at this... It was terrible. People were afraid of death.

31.07.2014

The whole city is full of people, crowded. The shooting does not stop, there is not enough bread in the stores, and food is quickly running out. My husband's sister and her children and husband left for Russia. Scary!

Some people started leaving. What can we expect? The city is full of rumors that they will come to us, too. I don't want to believe it.

It's been three weeks, and the bombing hasn't stopped. I feel sorry for people. People from Debaltsevo and our people are slowly leaving.

A flag of "DNR" is here. I pray that we are Ukraine, I don't want separation. God help me!

Our mayor was hiding from the leaders of the "DNR". He was against putting their flag on the city hall. It pleases me that there are people who are for Ukraine, for the Motherland.

25.01.2015

Today the first shell hit, it landed on the football field of the 8th school. In the house, who had wooden windows, the glass flew out. There were several other places in the city: near the market in the house, two apartments were destroyed. People were miraculously not injured. We pray – and God protects the people.

27.01.2015

Today we were sweeping the park area "Meadow of Fairy Tales" – and then the shelling started from Gorlivka. We were at work with colleagues, and it started to whistle overhead.

"A good woman was killed by shrapnel today. She was walking from work from the hospital with colleagues. Everyone fell, and she was hit by shrapnel and killed immediately".

I'm scared. I don't want my children to see or hear this. Maksym began to be afraid.

I have a vacation in February. I decided to take 10 days for the children before the holiday and to go, I don't know where, but far away, and so God help us.

28.01.2015

It's evening. Today we were taken to a sanatorium, the children and mothers of all those who work at the Vuhlehirsk Thermal Power Plant, and the other children remained. The TPP promises in 3-4 days take away them all d and to place to other boarding houses.

It all happened so fast. I didn't know where to go, and God helped to get in the first group, thank God for everything.

My husband and two of our mothers stayed at home. I pray to  God to  keep the people and children of this city safe.

30.01.2015

We were transported to the sanatorium "Yolochka" from Zmiivsa Thermal Power Plant (Tsentrenergo), four meals a day. We were greeted  well. Many of our people have arrived. Everything is fine, only the city is being shelled. My soul hurts.

1.02.2015

During four days we were transporting  mothers and children out of the city to the "Yolochka" sanatorium, turned on heating in all buildings to accept refugees from our city – the buildings are cold. On the first day we slept with the children in jackets, hats and gloves. It was cold for three days, and many children started to get sick. And the houses are being shelled.

10.02.2015

"Windows were blown out of the house, there is no gas, the gas pipeline is being repaired under fire. Children are registered for school here and will be taken there by bus. Children were assigned to different schools in villages and towns".

18.02.2015

There was the biggest attack, a lot of destruction. Now the city is not being hit, but there are shellings outside the city. Thank God everyone is alive, it's just a miracle. God heard the prayers and had mercy on people and saved their lives.

8.03.2015

Today, Centrenergo made a holiday for women – they laid festive tables for us. It was nice, good reception, kind people. For children there was a disco party in the evening.

10.03.2015

I'm going home to go to work. My mother-in-law will come and stay with my children, and some of us will be taken home by bus. What is there – at  home?

17.03.15

I went to work. Maksym fell ill with a fever in the "Yolochka". His classmate Marat, too. Marat's parents are taking him home by car, and I asked them to take Maksym as well. Thank God, today he will arrive, we will treat him.

The city after the shooting is in ruins, branches  are everywhere, trees are cut, the corner of the store in the center is broken. Bricks are  lying around. I put them away and swept the center.

"Life goes on. Gradually, the city is being cleaned. And people started coming back. Our schools started working. The windows were clogged with film, the batteries were broken from the frost, and they are being replaced. Parents bring old batteries".

February 2016

We were offered by Rinat Akhmetov's Staff to go to Kyiv for a check-up. They agreed with the doctor. Thank God that there are people who are not indifferent to the problems of others.

We have always been examined in Donetsk. Maksym and Yegor had there also surgeries on  disease and congenital pathology. We haven't been examined in two years. It is good that there is such an opportunity to go.

Maksym  was examined, we need to perform surgery on the right kidney, and the left one needs to be removed. There was a council of doctors. An operating package will come from Rinat Akhmetov's Staff.

April 2016

That's all right. Maxim had an operation. Thanks to everybody! The doctor said he'd be home soon. Everything will be alright.

June 2016

We were in Kyiv, the stent was removed. I am grateful that Rinat Akhmetov's Staff helped me a lot. May God bless their work.

September 2016

There is no shooting in the city, but sometimes we can hear [gunshots]. Many houses are broken, there are no dead people, but there are  destructions, and it seems that the war will not end.

Yesterday humanitarian aid, food, from Rinat Akhmetov were brought. I will always be grateful to this person for his help. God bless him. Maksym is well, next year we will go for examination, it is necessary to save the money. God will take care of everything.