We talked to Oleksandr, an activist and volunteer from Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, who remains in the city despite the threat of Russian troops. He has told us about his activities since the beginning of the invasion and the situation in the city.

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Even before the start of the current stage of the war, Olexander was an active member of the Kramatorsk community – he headed the association of flat owners of his house and the Parents’ Council of the city, was a member of the Public Council and coordinator of the All-Ukrainian initiative “Active Community” by the “Republic” Institute in his part of the region.

He was taking care of the well-being of the residents of his house and helped organise various events to increase the civic engagement of the people in his native city.

All of it was changed by a full-scale war.

Safety

Kramatorsk has repeatedly become the target of attacks by Russian troops, resulting in numerous casualties and destruction. For example, on April 8, 2022, a missile hit the square near the city station. Among the 60 who died as a result of the strike was a volunteer for the organisation, with which Olexander helped people who were evacuating from the region to board trains.

The sounds of explosions and artillery shelling have become common in the city, and local residents know just by them the distance to the place of attack.

“Even now I hear explosions somewhere far away, but I think it’s really far away,” Alexander says during our conversation.

With the start of a full-scale invasion, he took his family away from the front line, because the constant alarm sirens and the sounds of explosions negatively affected the condition of his son, who saw the active phase of the war back in 2014.

Alexander himself remained in Kramatorsk.

“I stayed with my house, because people remain in it and I, as the head of the association, cannot leave them to the mercy of fate.”

Population

A city of once 150 thousand residents, Kramatorsk, according to Alexander, has now from 20 to 30 thousand people.

Currently, the city serves as a hub for receiving and further distributing humanitarian aid, both among its residents and residents of nearby settlements.

Alexander admits that if there is a threat of occupation of the city by the Russians, he will also leave.

Needs

The most acute needs of the city are fuel, medicines and hygiene products. Food and drinking water are available, although of course their prices have risen significantly.

The city has electricity and water. At the same time, the city authorities warned about the high probability that Russian troops will try to damage the gas pipelines and urged local residents to have spare electric stoves. On 23 May, the city was cut off from the gas supply.

Citizens activity

Olexander notes that with the beginning of the Russian invasion, many local residents began to actively join the work of helping others and are ready to spend their own savings on this.

Oleksandr, together with other volunteers, within the framework of the “Everything will be fine Ukraine” association, delivers humanitarian aid and helps those who want to evacuate from the region.

Thanks to his knowledge of English, he also works with foreign journalists, helping them to show the situation in the region to the whole world.

Transport

Public transport in the city continues to operate and is free of charge. Due to the fuel shortages, its quantity is significantly limited, as a result, the residents of the nearby settlements remain practically cut off from Kramatorsk.

According to Alexander, volunteers in their own cars are trying to provide for the needs of those who cannot get to the shops on their own, or do not have the money.

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