A Man’s Escape from Shelling in the Donetsk Region Amid russia’s Ongoing Attacks

Dmytro, a 32-year-old resident of Selydove in the Donetsk region, was forced to flee his home with his mother due to relentless russian shelling. As the attacks escalated and conditions worsened, their hometown became uninhabitable.

Around August 10, the russians ramped up the shelling, with automatic gunfire echoing through the streets. Before we evacuated, we had no electricity or communication. The breaking point came on August 26 when a shell hit a house on our street, completely destroying it. Luckily, no one was inside, but that’s when I realized we could be next.

Dmytro

The blast shattered the windows of their house. Despite his mother’s initial reluctance, the family made the decision to leave on August 28.

The four of us, my friends, my mother, and I, were standing at the bus stop at 5 AM, waiting for anyone to come. But the town was eerily empty, and we had no way of contacting anyone. As we walked, we heard explosions in the distance. Eventually, the police arrived and evacuated us.

Dmytro

Their way first took them to the village of Petrivka and then to a transit point in Pokrovsk, where they registered for state resettlement before moving to Kropyvnytskyi. At the transit point, the East SOS Charity Foundation welcomed them, offering support and food packages.

Dmytro also touched on their russian citizenship, which they are unable to renounce due to the lack of a russian embassy in Ukraine.

We hold permanent residence permits in Ukraine. Although I was born here, my mother studied in russia, and I got my passport there. But I never wanted to live in russia or serve in its military. With everything russia has done, in Chechnya, Georgia, Abkhazia, I’ve always seen it as an aggressor. I’ve been fleeing russia my entire life.

Dmytro

Timely evacuations save lives. Protect yourself and your loved ones. Since February 24, 2022, the East SOS team, along with our partners, has rescued over 86,000 people from frontline and de-occupied areas, including more than 11,200 individuals with disabilities or reduced mobility.

To register for evacuation, please contact our call center from Monday to Saturday at 0800 332 614 (8 AM-6 PM). You can also reach us via messengers:

+38 099 710 48 72 (Viber)

+38 096 108 60 48 (Telegram)

This assistance is part of the project “Food Security, Evacuation, and Legal Support for Victims of Russian Aggression in Ukraine,” supported by Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe.