The war in Ukraine: life in a bomb shelter

The basement: a shelter for the residents of Donbas. Heartbreaking photo report about life of the ordinary Ukrainian citizens in the war zone in eastern Ukraine by RadioSvoboda. 

# 1: Personal space in the shelter is limited to one bed…

#2: Some people have moved into dormitories in the center of the city but a lot of people have decided that staying in basements close to their homes is better. Most people are afraid that if left unoccupied their homes will be looted by marauders…

#3: This space accommodates up to thirty people every night. When there is heavy shelling the basements are packed with people…

#4: In the makeshift kitchen rigged cables provide electricity for cooking…

#5: Two little girls playing in the shelter. Kids spend most of the time playing games. Sometimes they run around and that irritates some of the adults. Others don’t mind…

#6: The Petrovsky district is under constant shelling. Some people leave the shelter during the day but return for the night…

#7: Some people dry leaves and herbs in the basement. Some pray to the saints for the war to end. Some read the newspaper and clip out phrases that give them hope…

#8: Some families with children have come back from Russia, believing that the situation has improved. But because schools are closed for summer vacation, and they cannot afford to leave, the families stay in the basement shelter…

#9: For the most part, people have adapted to life underground. They have gotten used to receiving humanitarian aid…

#10: Even after living through hardship and destruction brought on by the war there are those who still believe that Russia will extend a helping hand…

EMPR, O. R. contributed to this publication

The original article in Ukrainian is available on radiosvoboda.org