In Old Avdiivka, silence is a rare phenomenon. It is frightening. We live in a state of fear that everything can happen again.
I will never forget what happened on 4 February 2015. My friend Serhii and I took our shift at Avdiivka Coke Plant. However, Serhii never made it to the workplace – he was killed by mining fragments during the shelling.
We fell down. I looked up and saw my friend was lying nearby. He was still alive. A minute later, he said his last word, "I think I'm dying."
There was only an elastic band left of my pants. You can say that could count myself lucky — fragment hit my knee. It also damaged my pelvic bone and stomach. It was a miracle that I survived. Six months later I was able to go to work.
I feel sorry for the people, who all those who were injured. I feel sorry for the pensioners who can't restore their homes or fences themselves.