1/2 Devastation after the rocket attack in Kramatorsk (photo: ANP).
Fries bakers Franky van Hintum (53) from Helmond and Coen van Oosten (49) from Waspik are very frightened. On Tuesday evening, the duo was slightly injured in a rocket attack in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. “Out of nowhere a huge bang was heard. The building partially collapsed and people were under the rubble. Screaming and panic. I’ve never experienced it this intense,” says Franky on Wednesday morning in the radio program Wakker! at Omroep Brabant. Eight people were killed in the rocket attack.
During the missile attack, Franky and Coen were eating in a restaurant. The usually quiet duo also suddenly had to run for their lives. “It took a while before we found each other. Franky helped another mother with a child out. I walked back into the restaurant because I left my phone,” says Coen.
An action that his colleague Franky describes as not smart. “Very often there is a second attack. At that moment the emergency services are present and people are pouring in. The second attack then causes even more victims. This was one hundred percent an attack on a civilian target,” Franky describes.
“This was 100 percent an attack on a civilian target.”
Both men escaped with minor injuries. They had only minor cuts and abrasions to their hands and arms. Franky: “We are in a war zone. You take into account that something can happen and you are on your guard. We had not counted on this missile attack. We were eating quietly in a restaurant and then this happens.”
Despite the violence of war, the duo managed to get some sleep. Coen: “Of course we didn’t go to bed right away. You talk to the other people who have experienced the same thing. It was a short night.”
Franky and Coen have regularly been at the front since the outbreak of war in Ukraine. There they bake fries for the people there. The bus of the fries bakers was also heavily damaged by the rocket attack. “We will look at that later. If possible, we will drive home first on Thursday. But this situation is a motivation for us to continue as usual. We cannot stop this now. The Ukrainians really need help. At home we will start new make plans. We will definitely come back to Ukraine.”
Waiting for privacy settings…