In the western part of the Donetsk region lies the mining town of Dobropillya, situated just 20 kilometers away from the frontline. Recently, Russian assaults have become more frequent. LIFEHACK spoke with residents regarding ongoing peace talks.
In a modest chamber within an unassuming structure belonging to the Light of the Gospel church in Dobropillya, most of the seats are occupied, primarily by elderly individuals. The walls are adorned with artworks depicting Christian themes created by renowned masters like Rembrandt and Titian. Today being Sunday, the worship service is underway. Volodymyr, who leads a drone squad for the 59th Separate Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces, entered tardily and could not secure a place to sit. Thus, he remains standing throughout the sermon, which concludes with messages advocating harmony.
“I’m convinced that we will reclaim all of Ukraine,” he states afterward. “I can’t settle for less.” This soldier hails from Khartsyzk, a city occupied by Russia in eastern Donetsk Oblast. He shares with a grin, “When I enlisted, I thought I’d only last three months, yet here I still stand.”
Simultaneously, individuals are opening relief packages and refilling their containers with potable water prior to returning home. This former mining community, which previously boasted a population of 43,000, currently counts around 35,000 residents, one-third of whom are
internally displaced people
from various regions of Ukraine.
“We prioritize prayers for our triumph followed by those for peace,” asserts the military chaplain and former firefighter Pastor Ihor. He discusses how the quaint town has embraced internally displaced individuals, with his congregation actively supporting these newcomers. “This community thrives on serving others,” he remarks. Following Russia’s comprehensive invasion in 2022, this town transformed into an asylum, offering solace ever since.
Russian occupation of Avdiivka
In February 2024, it has been regarded as a front-line town.
The congregation has set up a laundry room and a shower for military personnel on its premises. At the entrance, two soldiers sit under a poster with the words “Glory to Jesus Christ and the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” as they wait for their clothes to be washed. As there is a shortage of tap water, which cannot be drunk at the moment, the community had its own pump installed, which has a water purification system
.
‘We pray’
Ihor remains skeptical about the prospects of peace talks. “Over the past three years, it has become clear that our adversaries have no interest in them. Yet, we continue to pray,” he remarks. “While the troops remain here, everyone insists that all is well. However, once local inhabitants begin departing from the town, concerns arise.” He notes that many chose to flee following a significant assault involving missiles, artillery fire, and drones on March 7; this incident resulted in 11 fatalities and left another 49 individuals wounded.
Snowdrops are blooming amidst fragments of glass at the location of the assault, where structures lie in ruins. Inside a charred residence, two roses bound with black ribbons have been placed upon the remains of a child’s bedframe.
The atmosphere is suffocating; just a handful of individuals can be observed hauling remnants and rubble from the apartments that remain intact. Larysa, a elderly woman wearing a plaster cast on her hand, is also tidying up her living space. During the assault, she was present with her spouse when they were both struck down by the explosion. “We were stunned, so I began collecting the broken glass since we had no means of escape,” she recounts. “Then, one of the rescuers showed up and stated, ‘Do you have all your senses? Gather your belongings swiftly—we will extract you via the window.'”
They were only attended to by doctors the following day due to the hospital being overcrowded. “Many individuals perished,” states Larysa, which includes a young couple from Pokrovsk City. They had taken shelter in Dobropillya but tragically ended up getting burnt to death.
I don’t possess even one keepsake.
A different woman recounts how her house was entirely demolished. “Not even one keepsake remains; I lost every picture of my kid’s growth, absolutely nothing survived. My body is trembling uncontrollably. That evening, we found five lifeless bodies in the corridor.” She mentions that she was by herself since her university-going daughter had gone to Kyiv and her spouse hadn’t returned from working at the coalmine yet. “I reached out to him frantically over the phone,” she continues. “He rushed back immediately only for us to face another bombing raid shortly after. A second unmanned aircraft swooped down just when folks attempted to evacuate the structure. Individuals drenched with their own blood were taken off-site. The whole scene was horrific. Nothing this devastating has ever happened here before in Dobropolyya.”
The intensity of Russian assaults on Dobropillya has increased dramatically as the frontline moved closer to the area.
city of Pokrovsk
Last September, nearly every district had structures that were ruined. Throughout the daytime, individuals frequently go to fetch water from wells. In response to queries about their thoughts on a truce between Ukraine and Russia, most express a desire for peace. “A lot of my buddies didn’t make it,” remarks Daria, who hails from the Pokrovsk area. A disheveled man sitting on a bench with his head bowed mentions sadly that his sibling has been taken as a captive.
“I personally believe that [US President] Donald Trump won’t be able to accomplish much,” states Tetyana, who is retired. “He speaks with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin like they’re close friends. Instead of supporting Ukraine’s interests, he seems more inclined to back those of Russia.”
She states that true peace would only be achieved if Ukraine retains all its territories. She emphasizes, “Our allies need to guarantee that we receive sufficient support through arms and ammunitions, ensuring we can combat aggression effectively and safeguard ourselves should Putin deceive us and launch another assault.”
‘The land was never his possession’
“The land was never his,” yells another retiree named Oleksiy, who hails from Pokrovsk as well.
Olena, a young mother, asserts, “They ought to return everything they’ve taken from us.” In contrast, Karina, an internally displaced individual from Myrnohrad who frequently returns as a volunteer, comments, “The Russians should simply cease their attacks. Let them keep what they have seized, but spare the people.”
“Certainly, I would desire the
entire Donetsk region
To be returned to Ukrainian control. This is my homeland, yet not every desire comes true,” remarks 17-year-old Oleksandra, who serves at a café in downtown Dobropillya. She expresses her wish to depart for another country with her partner once he can lawfully exit Ukraine. Men eligible for conscription have been prohibited from exiting Ukraine since the onset of Russia’s comprehensive assault.
On the contrary, two 13-year-old girls express their desire to remain in Ukraine, yet not in Dobropollya, citing the safety concerns as the reason.
Many residents of the town believe that the ongoing peace negotiations have failed to bring about any beneficial changes: “In fact, the shelling has intensified,” laments Tetyana.
No one will reach an accord with Putin.
On March 22, there was another Russian drone attack on Dobropillya, but there were no casualties this time.
“The windows shattered, and the roof lifted off,” remarks one of multiple men cleaning up close to a devastated house. “My car’s door got wrecked,” states Denys, who utilizes his vehicle for delivering humanitarian assistance to villagers near the conflict zone and evacuating them when necessary.
His sibling Oleksandr receives a pension following his long career as a coal worker. He believes that both Donald Trump and Ukraine’s president at the time, Volodymyr Zelensky, might reach some sort of accord concerning peace talks. However, he doubts anyone could strike a deal with Putin, deeming it unfeasible. Just yesterday, his three young grandkids sat frightened in their cellar as Shahed drones passed right above them. They feel terrified, and they see no escape route ahead. All he wants is for this conflict to cease; yet, he acknowledges: “Many have lost their lives defending our region of Donbas. We cannot simply surrender.”
The workers complete their task of reinforcing the structure and covering the windows with plywood. In front of the building lies a shell crater where a Russian drone was found and has been turned over to the Ukrainian forces. “It will be returned to the Russians,” remarks Oleksandr with a grin.
The article was initially published in Ukrainian.
Author: Hanna Sokolova-Stekh
