the inhabitants try to flee the city of Irpin under the bombs

With our special envoys in Ukraine, Pierre Olivier and Bertrand Haeckler

Explosions ring out. The front line is at the end of this road between Irpin and Boutcha. “ It’s 2 km from here “Explains a Ukrainian soldier who returns from the front, submachine gun slung over his shoulder and magazines on his bulletproof vest. “ Today we received about 35 rockets. »

The Russian artillery is working at full speed. The night from Monday to Tuesday, residential neighborhoods were hit. The leader of this battalion has just returned with his men. These are high intensity fights that take place there, he describes. “ They shoot everywhere, including residential areas. They do not care ! But aiming and destroying houses is completely unethical! »

Frightened civilians leave their bombed homes

On Tuesday, hundreds of completely frightened civilians, some in shock, fled the city with their pets and a few belongings. Many do not even know where to go and where to find refuge. The fear can be read on the faces. “ The war ! The war… why? asks this woman who is very worried about her family. She just fled Irpin by road.

On this crossroads at the exit of the city, inhabitants arrive by car, by bus, by ambulance sometimes. “ Our house was bombed by the Russian army. Completely destroyed! Now we have nowhere to go! »

A little further on, this woman carries her baby in her arms. Suitcases all around her: We were bombed during the fighting. There is no more water, no more electricity, no more gas in Irpin. That’s why we left. We are going to my brother’s house, in the west of Ukraine. »

The snow begins to fall, the cold is striking. In makeshift tents, young volunteers and humanitarian associations help: “ I fled Irpin and came here to help refugees. We give them tea! »

The faces are serious, tired. Soldiers carry old people in wheelchairs onto a bus. This young man came to wait for his girlfriend, who lives in Irpin. He hasn’t heard from her.

She called me yesterday, but she only had 2% battery left on her phone. I don’t know where she is! I called the government emergency line. They must help me!

►Also listen: International guest – In Ukraine, “The war in the city is generating extremely brutal humanitarian consequences”

A key city to besiege Kiev

Irpin is a strategic point. This city locks the road to the capital, Kiev. For the moment, on this front, the Ukrainians are defending their positions. But for how much longer?, ask the soldiers.

The Russian army entered Irpin. The objective of the Russians is to completely take over the city and then in a few days they will try to invade Kiev.

Everyone now has the certainty that the fighting will last. “ Putin wants to invade all of Ukraine, he will not be satisfied with a few localities “, assures one of them. If Irpin falls, the Russian army could tighten its grip around Kiev and invade the city. This is the scenario increasingly feared by Ukrainian soldiers.

After a few hours of rest, these men will return to fight. ” We are Ukrainians, we do not know fear. We are fighters “says a soldier, a broad smile on his lips, his fist raised.

►Also read: War in Ukraine: the art of guerrilla warfare