Horror life in the ghost town on the front in Ukraine
Horror life in the ghost town on the front in Ukraine
KHERSON, UKRAINE - the city of Kherson seems ghostly. The main square of this port city is almost completely empty. There is hardly any traffic, so the individual cyclist or the old woman who hurries with her stick to the grocery store threatens little.
a front city in the war
KHERSON is located on the front line of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Russian troops are directly opposite the DNIPRO River, less than three miles from the Ukrainian armed forces and the oppressed population that they try to protect them.
The situation in the shops
At the supermarket there are large barriers at the entrance, wooden panels block the glass sliding doors. Most of the residents, mainly older women and men, scurry into what the shelves have to offer before returning to their accommodations with the vitalities of the day.
the liberation of Kherson
KHERSON was the first big city that was taken by the Russian troops in the Ukraine. When she was released eight months later, joyful crowds, decorated with blue and yellow Ukrainian flags, moved to the streets, to hug and kiss soldiers, while Hupen rang .
The loss of joy and life
The flags continue to blow - a large flag on a bench building in the city center, smaller flags line the streets and are even painted on lantern piles. But the noise and joy have disappeared.
The uncertainty in Kherson
with Ukraine is the fate of this city and its people on the brink. The illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 Putin gave Putin a piece of land on the Black Sea south of Kherson, but the comprehensive invasion that began in 2022 had the Russian troops conquered more and more territory.
The legacies of the war
Many of the buildings bear the scars of years of conflicts - broken and nailed windows as well as debris of grenade fragments that are distributed everywhere.
The threat from drones
The grenades continue to fly over our heads and create deafening and destructive noises in the impact. But it is the buzzing of the drones that frighten people here.
"It is impossible to explain how scary it is," says Olena Vassilievna Shigareva. "It flies, it hums, you don't see it. And when you discover it, stop it and follow you wherever you go."
drone attacks on civilians
Shigareva reports that she and another woman became the destination of drones, with some . Dozens of videos on the social network Telegram show how armed camera roars pursue civilians and throw explosives, accompanied with music.
"You could see that we were women and not soldiers," says Shigareva. "We didn't do anything to you. It's just horror."
life in the hospital
Shigareva speaks from her hospital bed, where she is treated in her leg due to an injured knee and Schrapnelle. The hospital is one of the few places in which we can observe noise and movement because paramedics rush through the corridors to provide the war injuries - the majority are civilians who have been hit by drone attacks.
The dangerous reality for the civilian population
beds are closely strung together in the available rooms, each with a patient. An older woman fixed her ankle; A youthful named Boris reported that he was on the bus when he was hit; And a man looks where his legs were once - they were amputated above the thighs.
The challenge for the city administration
Roman Mrochko, the mayor of Kherson, works far from the risk of drones in a basement. He explains that up to 100 drones can be flown to his city every day. "A large part is overridden by our interference, but of course there are drones that achieve the goal and meet our people," he says CNN. "We call it a hunt for civilians. The Russians send freshly trained drone teams to Kherson, who are trained by attacks on civilians," he adds.
violations of international law
Targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilians who do not actively participate in the hostility apply according to international law as war crime.
Russia is repeatedly accused by Kiev, its Western allies, the International Criminal Court and the United Nations to target Ukrainian civilians. In the course of the war, Russia has always contested these allegations, despite considerable contrary evidence.
The dangerous reality in everyday life
The exposed eastern outskirts of the city are the place where most drone attacks take place, which means that the residents are effectively restricted in their movement. Early in the morning is the safest time to be on the streets, and then volunteers are on the move to distribute boxes with food from a truck.
women appear nervously out of the houses, warmly packed against the cold. Cardboard boxes are put in grateful arms before they hastily return inside. Nobody really wants to stop and speak.
and for good reason. After just a few minutes, the news comes that drones were started from the Russian side of the river. In this ghost town it is too dangerous to be outside. The helpers secure the non -delivered boxes and return to their depot. The other families on their way may have to stay hungry on this day or try their luck.
This article was reported in KHerson by CNN's chief reporter for international reporting, Clarissa Ward, the senior producer Brent Swails, the photojournalist Scott McWhinnie and the journalist Kosta Gak. He was written by Ward, Swails and Rachel Clarke.
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