How the front-line Ochakiv lives: journalistic research

Journalists showed the dilapidated condition of Ochakiv, which is under fire from the territory of the occupied Kinburn spit.

Life in the city stops every day at noon, when Russian shelling begins, says the report of the Ukrinform publication.

From the exit to the entrance of the artillery is five to ten seconds, and therefore it is impossible to report such shelling in advance, says Deputy Mayor Oleksii Vaskov.

Damaged housing in Ochakiv, photo: Ukrinform

Damaged housing in Ochakiv, photo: Ukrinform

Damaged housing in Ochakiv, photo: Ukrinform

«The city is small, civil infrastructure suffers. I don't understand why they are shooting at us, I don't see any tactics or strategy here. Just to scare the population. They hit us with calibers, onyxes, drones, and artillery. From the exit of the bullet to the shell hit of the artillery — five to ten seconds. It is impossible to report such shelling in advance, it is not a missile hazard. It can fly even now, to this place where you and I are standing,» says Oleksii Vaskov.

The civilian infrastructure suffers the most from shelling. Some houses have to be closed several times, but there is currently no question of a large-scale restoration of the community.

«However, together with the Netherlands, a recovery plan was developed, which was approved at the city council session. From the Netherlands, as part of cooperation, we received a bulldozer for clearing debris and organizing a landfill for solid household waste,» adds the vice mayor.

At the same time, despite the shelling, local authorities are trying to replace asphalt, cobblestones and even plant flowers and trees in public squares. Expectants do not react very positively to this, explaining that the funds can be spent more appropriately.

Squares and green areas are being improved in Ochakiv, photo: Ukrinform

Squares and green areas are being improved in Ochakiv, photo: Ukrinform

Squares and green areas are being improved in Ochakiv, photo: Ukrinform

The most powerful blow to Ochakiv was the arrival of January 9, 2023. Its consequences are still felt, especially by those who live closest to the coast.

The shelling of the city paralyzes and deprives people of the opportunity even to visit the hospital, says resident Ochakiv, Vira.

«You will have to walk back, it is very scary, you can come under fire. As soon as you leave the house, even if it's not far, something inside seems to break. I came under fire in the market like that — I don't know how I survived. And the gas was burning near me, and sparks was flying... My legs went numb from fear and I lay on the asphalt for a long, long time. Then somehow I got up and left, not knowing where to go... For us, it is a holiday when the morning has not been fired upon, when the sun is shining — it is also a holiday. As soon as they start playing, the holiday will end. I will tell you that when it is quiet, it is also scary. You think: why is it quiet, aren't they up to something?» says Mrs. Vira.

Local shops are open until the first shelling of Ochakiv, after that they are closed, because there will be no customers anyway.

Currently, 800 children live in the city out of a population of 8,000. It is for them that the government has arranged a partially full-time format of education in the shelter of educational institutions. In a conversation with journalists, some townspeople admit that due to the massiveness of the shelling, they thought about moving temporarily.

Parents and children walking in the center of Ochakiv, photo: Ukrinform

Parents and children walking in the center of Ochakiv, photo: Ukrinform

«Of course, it's scary here too, constant shellings. When there is anxiety, it is better to hide: in our house, the bed is in the corridor between the walls, and we spend the night there. «Before, we didn't think of leaving, but in the last two weeks, their artillery started to shell so much that we are thinking about temporarily moving to Mykolaiv,» said a resident of Ochakiv.

We will remind, on February 8, an ambulance brigade from Ochakiv came under Russian fire.

Read also the article: «Ochakiv: what the front-line city lives and dreams about»