Joy, fear and sadness flashed across face of Natalia Elistratova, sitting next to her husband on a special Train back to their hometown of Balaklia that recaptured Ukraine last after a week six months of Russian occupation.
The city – which had a population of 27,000 before the war – Ho one of The key The urban outposts that Ukraine has recaptured in Northeast of Kharkiv region in Early September after the sudden collapse of one of The main front lines of Russia.
” .” Elistratova said with a smile weather he is great Because we’re going home. Temperamental greatWe are very happy now.”
As soon as she said this, she started crying.
“I’m overwhelmed with my feelings. We weren’t in home for Five months. I’m actually want To see what’s there and what happened,” she said and turned around to assure her husband: “I’m not crying, I’m fine.”
Elistratova was traveling 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Kharkiv with to her husband And the daughter on one of The special train mode on for population of town wishing to return.
engine driver Maxim Kharchenko said the train on The Kharkiv-Balaklia road is used to connect to KyivAirport with The city center, but since the war stopped everything air Traffic, can be reposted in Kharkiv. “The train has set off” on September 14 and already on The first The train, there was people travel and back To Palaklia, “They went there to see what happened to them homesto check whether the destroyed or not.”
As the train cut through a misty forest and passed destroyed Most buildings of Passengers seated in gloomy silence.
behind home But still afraid
Once in Palaklia Willcitratova and her family walked through battle- The town was damaged in the residential building, which appeared to have been slightly damaged by the bombing.
adjacent block windows Balconies were shattered and shrapnel sank into the facade.
“It’s like we’re in Chernobyl. Nature took over her daughter, Olena Miroshchenko. “number one do anything, for half a yearNo one cut the grass and bushes. Everything is overgrown.”
Once back in their apartment, and family He started checking for damage. Within minutes, Illistratova had found Piece of shrapnel in a wall.
“It’s scary,” she said.
“I still have this feeling, that at any moment a shell explodes or a plane can fly over. I’m still afraid of being here.”
Joy, fear and sadness flashed across face of Natalia Elistratova, sitting next to her husband on a special Train back to their hometown of Balaklia that recaptured Ukraine last after a week six months of Russian occupation.
The city – which had a population of 27,000 before the war – Ho one of The key The urban outposts that Ukraine has recaptured in Northeast of Kharkiv region in Early September after the sudden collapse of one of The main front lines of Russia.
” .” Elistratova said with a smile weather he is great Because we’re going home. Temperamental greatWe are very happy now.”
As soon as she said this, she started crying.
“I’m overwhelmed with my feelings. We weren’t in home for Five months. I’m actually want To see what’s there and what happened,” she said and turned around to assure her husband: “I’m not crying, I’m fine.”
Elistratova was traveling 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Kharkiv with to her husband And the daughter on one of The special train mode on for population of town wishing to return.
engine driver Maxim Kharchenko said the train on The Kharkiv-Balaklia road is used to connect to KyivAirport with The city center, but since the war stopped everything air Traffic, can be reposted in Kharkiv. “The train has set off” on September 14 and already on The first The train, there was people travel and back To Palaklia, “They went there to see what happened to them homesto check whether the destroyed or not.”
As the train cut through a misty forest and passed destroyed Most buildings of Passengers seated in gloomy silence.
behind home But still afraid
Once in Palaklia Willcitratova and her family walked through battle- The town was damaged in the residential building, which appeared to have been slightly damaged by the bombing.
adjacent block windows Balconies were shattered and shrapnel sank into the facade.
“It’s like we’re in Chernobyl. Nature took over her daughter, Olena Miroshchenko. “number one do anything, for half a yearNo one cut the grass and bushes. Everything is overgrown.”
Once back in their apartment, and family He started checking for damage. Within minutes, Illistratova had found Piece of shrapnel in a wall.
“It’s scary,” she said.
“I still have this feeling, that at any moment a shell explodes or a plane can fly over. I’m still afraid of being here.”