in Ukraine, the inhabitants of Kharkiv live with the fear of Russian strikes

In Ukraine’s second city, Russian bombings continue unabated. In Saltivka, the most targeted district of Kharkiv, those who remained living there are struggling to escape the horror.

In Ukraine, Kharkiv is still particularly targeted by Russian bombings. To the point that its mayor, Ihor Terekhov, believes that the city could become a “second Aleppo”, in reference to the destruction suffered by the Syrian city during the war againstEIslamic state. For a month, Moscow has decided to systematically target Ukrainian civil and energy infrastructure, to slowly suffocate the country. In the most destroyed areas of Ukraine’s second city, staying there this spring is becoming a daily challenge. Franceinfo went to Saltivka, a martyred district of Kharkiv.

The gap is striking between the small barbecue that Oleh prepares at the edge of the pond and, behind him, the eight-story building completely blown up, hit by a Russian missile three months ago. The facade has collapsed: on the first floor we can see the remains of a kitchen, and on the second the books still stored in the library. Oleh lives right across the street. He is 21 years old and looks infinitely sad: “I have lived in this neighborhood all my life. And now that everything has disappeared, it gives me the feeling of a great emptiness. Some of my friends are at the front, others have gone to live elsewhere and still others are dead.”

“Everything is empty”

This evening, Oleh brings together those who remain for a little party, without really believing it: “Every night, here, you are reminded that the attacker is 30 kilometers from your home, and that he wants to kill you. So on a daily basis, death pursues you. You try to get rid of him! But you don’t ‘can’t do it.’

Saltivka is the residential district of Kharkiv closest to Russia, and also the most targeted. There were 400 000 inhabitants before the war but today we are looking for them. Sergei too, with his 6-year-old daughter, alone in the sandbox: “Every day there are bombings. There are no children here… You see, everything is empty! It’s difficult when you wake up in the morning and see all these destroyed buildings around you. C It’s really heavy.”

Those who remain often have no choice. Alina and Volodymyr bought on the 16th and top floor, in another building. Their little boy Vitaly, quite blond, is not yet 3 years old. “There is no electricity so no elevator. The little one climbs the stairs to the 10th floor by himself… It’s too difficult to carry him.” Being responsible for a child, in these conditions, “that’s the hardest part”, add the two parents. But Alina doesn’t want to submit : “We’ve already endured enough things like that here, to give up our desires! So… We live our lives.” And if a second child arrives, “it’s like that”smiled Alina.