Having first destroyed and then occupied Rubizhne in Luhansk oblast, despite numerous promises, the Russians were unable to return the local residents to their usual lives. Weeks without water and days without electricity are the current realities of the occupied city.
Residents of the occupied Rubizhne. Illustrative photo from the resources of the occupiers
Olga is a resident of Rubizhne, who decided from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion to not leave her home — she had a house built there before February 24, which miraculously survived the shelling, after that the woman decided: if there is an opportunity, she will stay where was born.
However, in a conversation with «Vchasno» journalists, the woman cannot finally admit that it was the right decision.
In recent months, Olga admits: life has become more difficult, especially when she sees that the promises of the occupiers are not coming true, and all the problems of the locals are postponed indefinitely. Even at the beginning of the occupation, there were plenty of promises — the road was paved again, electricity was in the houses, and a stable water supply.
«We don’t have anyone who can say that somewhere is better. There were problems before. Right? There were accidents, bad weather when the wires were cut and there was no light, and people would like to have higher salaries or pensions even earlier, and there were robberies, everything happened before. It is not necessary to say that the problems appeared a year ago, this is not true. They were, we live in the real world,» the woman repeats when we try to talk in more detail about the situation with criminal cases and the occupiers.
Olga says: since the beginning of the occupation, the residents of Rubizhne have been promised a lot. In particular, electricity in the houses, and centralized water supply.
«There are many people in the city, the market is open. There is electricity sometimes, but more at night for a few hours, almost never during the day. The water supply is unstable — it is turned off very often. When they turn it on — also without warning, that’s why we collect water in pans and bottles. Sometimes there is no water for a week, sometimes there is water for 2−3 days in a row, but with a weak pressure. There is still a big problem — that the roads are broken, there is no asphalt, only dirt. When it rains, the whole city floats, and it is impossible to leave the house. People sit at home,» Olga says.
Occupied Rubizhne from a drone
However, in Kreminna of Luhansk oblast, where her friend lives, the situation is even worse. They never have the light in the houses there — although they have been promising for a long time, they hardly believe it anymore. Mobile communications are bad — it is turned on, but it is only enough for short conversations.
«In Kreminna, there are many broken wires, utility poles are lying down. The substation that „fed“ it is also destroyed. Therefore, flashlights there are very relevant, you have to to find batteries for them, and we don’t have them either. We buy candles, 75−100 rubles each, they burn for a short time, but we have enough for one time, sometimes for two days. The temperature is not very warm now, so it is cold. But almost everyone has gas,» Olga says.
Both Rubizhne and Kreminna are mostly provided with medicines by volunteers.
When we asked whether people are waiting for Ukraine in Rubizhne, Olga is silent for a few seconds and then says: «Ukraine will come — we will be with Ukraine. We are not against anyone, we are against war. If there are no shootings — it’s good, because people don’t die.»