DONETSK, Ukraine – The northern Kyivsky district of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk is in ruins. Just three kilometers north of the decimated district lies the notorious Donetsk airport, which had been the scene of intense fighting for months.
Although the Kremlin-backed separatists have taken over the airport – killing dozens of Ukrainian soldiers and imprisoning those captured – explosions and shells are still part of daily life for the scarce number of civilians living in the Kyivsky district.
Bus driver Alla Shutka is not afraid though to drive her bus onto the edge of Kyivsky district. She doesn’t drive her trolleybus inside the district itself as she points out that separatists have located several checkpoints and bases for supplies. “Also, almost everybody has already fled the district because of them. Those wanting to use the bus can easily walk 10 minutes to reach the first bus stop.”
In recent attacks in Donetsk buses have been hit, killing and wounding dozens of commuters. Despite the attacks, the Donetsk city administration explains that public transport is an absolute necessity for the people in Donetsk.
“We won’t let it happen to further isolate the city. It is our duty as a responsible city to accommodate the needs of our civilians,” a spokeswoman of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic says. She does admit, though, that in some parts of the city public transport is not let through because of danger and military activity. “In some parts of the city we need to give safety a priority,” she said.
Whoever walks inside the Kyivsky distrct will only notice shattered windows and some craters where shells have landed. The explosions are intense in the district itself and non-stop.
The Kyivsky district of Donetsk is a staging ground for attacks by Kremlin-backed separatists.
The area is deserted except for a few local people, sitting on a bench. They don’t seem to care about the massive explosions. “We have lost everything. We cannot go anywhere. We need to adapt to our new life,” says a man identifying himself only as Vladimir.
At first he is suspicious of the press, accusing Western journalists of spreading lies and working for the CIA. Therefore, he refuses to give his last name. As Vladimir sips on his bottle of beer, which seems not to be his first bottle as four empty ones are in front of him, three pro-Russian separatist fighters walk around the corner of a ruined apartment complex, all wearing full armor and Kalashnikovs. One of the three young men commands Vladimir to hand him a cigarette. Vladimir doesn’t hesitate for a second and obeys.
The soldier goes by the name of Evgeny, and insists not to give his last name as he claims he’s not authorized to talk to the press. “This district is fully shelled by the Ukrainian army. They’ve killed many civilians that used to live here,” Evgeny explains, pointing his hand at several flats that have been severely damaged.
“Now, our time has come as we’ve finally taken control of the airport,” he vaguely claims.
As Evgeny keeps explaining about all the alleged bloodshed on Ukrainian hands, explosions and outgoing artillery echo through the district.
“We have been forced to use part of the Kyivsky district for our military operations,” Evgeny admits, as he quickly adds, trying to justify the actions: “Many civilians have fled anyways, and our army is able to use some of the more abandoned areas in the district to locate our military installations.”
However, the civilians that are trapped in the ruins of Kyivsky district unanimously say otherwise.
When Evgeny and his two separatist comrades move on and leave the scene, an old woman storms outside. Her name is Anna, and as is in many cases in Donetsk, she refuses to give her last name out of fear for reprisals.
“They have military vehicles nearby. They have a base. Many people have been killed here, and they seem not to care,” Anna desperately says. “They simply don’t care about us. Some of the soldiers sleep in flats which aren’t even theirs, as we are living in bomb shelters.”
The people still living in Kyivsky district are trapped by war. It is one of many examples of Kremlin- backed separatists using civilian areas as a defensive shield, which Kyiv also accuses them of doing.
As night falls over the Kyivsky district, many of its trapped civilians hide in bomb shelters, seeking cover from an endless war.
Stefan Huijboom is a freelance Dutch journalist.
