Although the Ukrainian army has managed to recapture a number of areas from the Russians in recent weeks, Ukrainians are left with great destruction even after the withdrawal of the Russian military. For the inhabitants of the northeastern province of Kharkiv, which until recently was under Russian control, among others, despair is taking the upper hand. “Although the people feel liberated, the region around the city of Izhum has become a kind of no man’s land, where life is no longer possible at the moment,” says our war reporter Robin Ramaekers.
“It’s awful here. I can’t put it into words,” said a resident of Ramaekers. After months of rocket attacks and shelling, the devastation in Kharkiv is complete. “They are monsters. They treated us really badly,” says Natalia, a resident of the now abandoned village of Topolske. The woman’s house was taken by the Russians and used as a military base. “People have no more houses, nothing more”, says Natalia.
Rebuilding is also not immediately an option, as there is no longer any building material to be found. “We have nothing to rebuild. And winter is coming,” it sounds desperate.
Defeat for Putin
Ramaekers also confirms that the recapture of the eastern city of Lyman, which the Ukrainians entered today, is a heavy defeat for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lyman is strategically very important. “It opens the way to further recapture the entire north of Donetsk province,” emphasizes the war reporter.
However, the town also has a symbolic value. “Putin had already indicated in advance that the strategic hub had to remain in Russian hands at all costs”, but that has now failed miserably.
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REPORTING. In Izyum, Ukrainians only had internet access at one point. Getting there was at the risk of their own life (+)
Big defeat for Putin: Ukrainian army recaptures strategic city of Lyman from Russians
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