Deserted streets, air alarms and checkpoints are reminiscent of the war in the center of Kiev. In places, you will find buildings completely destroyed in Russian airstrikes.
KIOVA Pavel trying to get their lives in order on the outskirts of Kiev’s inner city.
It’s impossible because the wall of his duo is completely missing. It collapsed in a Russian air strike.
– There was a whistle and then it exploded. I turned to my brother and shouted: Are you alive? Pavel says.
As a miracle trade, both Pavel and his brother survived with slight damage from the attack that destroyed the three-story apartment building.
The person in the garbage can instead died. It is still unclear whether the man or woman died. The body was mutilated so badly that gender could not be ascertained.
Vinohradar is a residential area on the outskirts of the center of Kiev, which is not the front line of war. It is unclear why Russia decided to strike right here.
– I shouted to my brother to look for identity papers, we have to escape, Pavel says about the horrible morning.
In the heart of Kiev, most of the buildings are in order, but where Russia has been hit, the destruction is complete.
The fierce fighting in Kiev is on the outskirts of the city in the southwest, northeast and east. Russia, on the other hand, strikes the center of Kiev from afar, mainly with missiles and rockets.
The Obolon shopping center in Retroville gives an example of the devastation of a missile strike. There is little left of the mall and the adjoining apartment building.
“We will win this war”
In the ruins of his home, Pavel goes through his fiction. The works of mostly Russian writers have remained intact.
– Russia wants to destroy us, even though almost all of my books are works by Russian writers, Pavel sneezes.
He served for more than twenty years in the Soviet Navy. Yet he will never forgive Russia.
– We will win this war. Their soldiers are just boys. Our troops have been practicing war against Russia in eastern Ukraine for eight years.
Pavel calls for the closure of airspace, like virtually all Ukrainians.
– We depend on the support of our western friends. The sky is still open. If we get a lot of arms aid, we will win this war quickly, says Pavel.
Igorin at home, windows slammed in as a result of a Russian airstrike, even though his house is some distance from the point of explosion.
– My apartment is cold when the windows are damaged. I was home at the time of the attack. Fortunately, I survived, says Igor.
At the beginning of the war, there was an immediate threat that Russia would besiege Kiev and invade the center. The danger of siege has momentarily diminished somewhat, but air and missile strikes continue.
Even in the center you can hear the roar of war from the front line. Continuous air alarms are a reminder of a constant danger.
“I’m making a cross because I’m alive”
A couple of kilometers from Pavel’s house on the street corner is a destroyed bus.
Irina sells meat products near the destroyed bus. Every morning he comes from the front line of the war from Irpin to his home in the center of Kiev.
– I’m wearing clothes. I wake up many times at night. I get up to sit and make a cross sign because I’m alive, says Irina.
In the center of Kiev, the state of war is reminiscent of desert streets, numerous checkpoints and food stalls selling food. Most of the shops are closed.
Irina says she takes food to the soldiers. He pays for the meat products out of his own pocket.
– We all want to help the soldiers who protect us, says Irina and bursts into tears.
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