Vovchansk: the story of a teacher who survived the occupation, but has now been forced to leave her hometown (video)
The border with Russia is less than 10 kilometers away, the distance to Belgorod is 48 km, and to Kharkiv – 74 km. Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region became a hot spot 2 years ago, but even after the Ukrainian army liberated it from Russian occupation, the city, as before, did not know a single day of peace.
Constant shelling and bombing did not give people any rest, but the residents did not leave the city – they traditionally and patiently believed in the best. However, in the spring of 2024, even the “most resistant” began to leave Vovchansk and were forced to evacuate. IA “FACT” journalist Anna Bezhenska spoke with Yulia, a local resident of this city, who, together with her blind mother, survived the first occupation of Vovchansk after the death of her father and stayed in Vovchansk until the end in the hope that she would not have to go anywhere.
Julia works as an English teacher and has lived in her native land for more than 28 years. This spring, the Russians turned Vovchansk into hell: bombs and rockets rained down on the city almost continuously, the center of Vovchansk was already completely destroyed, and the bridge was blown up. Residents of the city were left without gas, water, electricity, there is no stable connection. Relatives of these people, who live in other cities and countries, cannot contact their relatives, who remained in the city and its surroundings for many days. The central market, shops and pharmacies are completely destroyed, people have nowhere to buy food and medicine.
Until this day, volunteers come to Vovchansk with food and water and pick up people to send them to a safe place. According to Yulia, the most important thing is to believe in the best and stick together to survive. Because the most valuable thing in a person is life and it is worth leaving even the most beloved city.
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to wish Yulia and all the residents of Vovchansk great strength of spirit and maximum effort in their new life. The people of Ukraine are united, and to this day we believe only in the best.
