“The city is ready to defend itself,” insists Vadym Lyakh, mayor of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine, which could soon become a hotspot for fighting as Moscow’s troops advance from the north.
Outside his office in this leafy little town in the Donetsk region, people were filling bottles from a large barrel of water on Monday.
The situation is complex, because the front has come closer in recent weeks, up to 15-20 kilometers, Mr. Lyakh told AFP, wearing a military-style khaki t-shirt. It is to be hoped that the new weapons our army needs will arrive soonhe adds.
The fighting has already affected the residents of Sloviansk. There is no running water, no gas, but at least we have electricitysays Yuriy, 66, filling a bottle.
Due to intense fighting in areas where pumping stations are located, there is only natural springs and water tankersexplains the mayor.
Although the electricity supply is unstablea third of the shops are open and help is coming, he adds.
Despite the difficulties, Yuriy’s wife, Valentina, 63, is optimistic about the prospects for the Ukrainian forces. We think they’re gonna defeat that Russian trashshe says.
In 2014, Sloviansk had already been seized by pro-Russian separatists, then retaken by Ukrainian forces after a long siege. On Monday, the muffled, distant sound of artillery could be heard from the main square.
The mayor is in contact with the army every day, but he says he does not interfere with military affairs. They know better than anyone what is needed for military operationshe assures.
He says he has not spoken to officials in war-torn towns further east, such as Sievierodonetsk and Lyssychansk. The algorithm is clear: everything will depend on the situation on the fronthe continues.
Preparations include setting up workspaces in bomb shelters and hospital basements to provide emergency care even under bombardment.
Before the war, Sloviansk had a population of around 100,000, but now has only a quarter, which Mr Lyakh says is still a lot.
” We put more emphasis on evacuation… Unfortunately, people don’t always listen. “
In Kramatorsk, we are all waiting for a miracle
In Kramatorsk, another city facing a possible Russian assault, the atmosphere was livelier, with crowds of soldiers in supermarkets and cafes.
For the moment, it is more or less calmMayor Oleksandr Goncharenko told AFP. In the evening or at night, some explosions can be seen about 40-45 kilometers away. The Russians are closing in but our army is trying to hold the positions now.
Over the past few months, the authorities and the army have helped to strengthen the defenses and Kramatorsk is more or less ready, says the aedile.
We are all waiting for a miracle, we hope for peace, that this fratricidal war ends soonconfesses Valentina, 57, who sells Caucasian bread and cheese in the city's covered market.
" So far, everything is fine here, but it is very hard psychologically when you see on television what is happening in other cities. "
The city still has water and electricity, despite occasional cuts.
The only thing we don't have in Donetsk region is gas, due to broken pipelines from Kharkiv and Luhansk regionstwo war-stricken areas,” says Goncharenko.
Some 30% of the population, or about 60,000 people, still live in the city, and phone records show that 10,000 people who had left have recently returned, he said.
France Media Agency
Source: Radio-Canada
