Ukrainian refugees recall fleeing houses amid Russian assault: ‘Our home was the wrong way up, and eventually…’

The Ukrainian metropolis of Zaporizhzhia is surrounded by Russian troops. About 70 per cent of the state is underneath Russian occupation. From Melitopol to Burdyansk, the Russian flag is waving over the cities. Here, explosions are heard at common intervals.

In this particular report, India Today talks to refugees in Zaporizhzhia as they recount their tales of fleeing their houses and residing in a bunker.

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Tertanya, 68, retains seeing the terrifying scenes on her cell. She is watching a video of the lethal phosphorus bomb which is banned within the worldwide world. The clip of burning embers raining from the sky. Terror fills her eyes. What would be the destiny of their village, or of their buddies, she wonders.

Tertanya, 68, resident of Huliaipole, a metropolis close to Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine. (Photo: India Today)

“They started bombing with these phosphorous bombs when I had already left the town and I didn’t see them myself, but I was sent the video and the message came from confirmed sources. Some people are still there, my daughter’s husband’s parents are still there. They decided to stay and they sat in the basement with 30 people. My best friend is still there, too. I was talking to her yesterday and asked her to leave town immediately,” she stated.

Her village is 70 kms away from Zaporizhzhia. She by no means thought that her village could be bombed since there isn’t a army base, however she was fallacious.

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Even when the missiles began falling on the village, she didn’t depart the home. She lived alone within the basement for 3 weeks regardless of affected by a kidney illness.

When requested why she didn’t depart her city without delay, she stated, “I thought I would protect my home, my land, my building. I thought it would stop soon. My children escaped because they have small children. They asked me to go with them, but I didn’t. They left along with their cousins in their private car. I said I would stay, my daughter was calling me and crying and then she found me the other car to leave.”

“IT WAS HELL”

Recalling his expertise, Eugan, who fled from Mariupol, stated it was not possible to flee from all of the areas of Russian occupation.

Eugan stated, “I will thank this car, this car was my life. I walked with my family for four days and crossed 30 checkpoints on the way. It was hell.”

Eugan, a resident of Mariopol. (Photo: India Today)

Mariupol has suffered the heaviest devastation by the hands of the Russians. Eugan stated there isn’t a concern now. The scene of dying, the sound of bullets, he had seen all of it.

He spent many days in a bunker earlier than reaching Zaporizhzhia with 4 relations. Though, his father was left behind within the village.

“I left my father behind in my village. I want to go to Germany with my family but my daughter, Maria, 11, finds her house to be the most lovely. She left everything behind except a bag and this doll,” he stated.

Maria, 11, a resident of Mariopol. (Photo: India Today)

“STOP WAR IN UKRAINE PLEASE!”

Maria stated, “This doll was presented to me when I was in Melitopol. I was really happy. My friends are still there and they can’t leave the village. All the humanitarian corridors are closed and it’s so hard to leave by car. Stop the war in Ukraine please!”

Maria recounts that sooner or later they returned dwelling to search out that their home had been damaged into and there have been shards of glass in every single place. The door was open and every part was in disarray. Maria’s mom, Olena, was a faculty instructor.

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She stated, “We were not at home and when we came back we saw the window of the house was broken. How can the Russian army do this? They could have waited for us, I don’t know. They took the cups. Our house was upside down. How can they do all this?”

Maria, 11, performs along with her doll. (Photo: India Today)

From that day Olena began worrying about her daughter. She was scared, she stopped consuming and ingesting. She began on the lookout for a approach to escape the village.

Olena stated, “Finally we decided to leave because our territory was occupied and still is. The Russian military units and vehicles were driving through our village. We could hear all this rumbling and we were petrified. My hands were down, I was disorientated. I didn’t know what this was. I didn’t want to eat and drink anything. We couldn’t decide for so long to leave but we got the idea that we were absolutely alone. People around us were sympathising with us, helping us. But we were not protected. We had no protection, people around were armed. We decided to leave far away where we are not under attack.”

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