Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
Ukraine

Continuous Shelling And Fear Of Repeated Occupation: The Evacuation Of Ukraine's Vovchansk

Russia began shelling the border of the Kharkiv region on May 10 and launched a ground offensive in the north. Fierce battles are taking place and there is continuous shelling. The commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskiy, says that attempts by Russian troops to break through Ukrainian defenses have been stopped for now, but he called the situation difficult. Fighting continues in the areas bordering the Russian Federation.

Residents of Vovchansk and nearby villages are trying to leave the area, on their own or with the help of volunteers and the police. Previously, the city of Vovchansk was occupied by Russian troops, but in the fall of 2022, Ukrainian forces liberated the region. Now Russian forces are again trying to recapture the town.

Continuous shelling can be heard in the city and many residents are trying to leave the city as soon as possible. They say that they are afraid not only of shelling but also of the threat of repeated occupation by Russian soldiers.
1 Continuous shelling can be heard in the city and many residents are trying to leave the city as soon as possible. They say that they are afraid not only of shelling but also of the threat of repeated occupation by Russian soldiers.
2
Not all residents are in a hurry to leave. Marusya, a resident of Vovchansk, decided to stay, despite the advance of the Russian Army. "There is nowhere to go, and there is no one to go to," she says.
3 Not all residents are in a hurry to leave. Marusya, a resident of Vovchansk, decided to stay, despite the advance of the Russian Army.

"There is nowhere to go, and there is no one to go to," she says.
An elderly woman cries before her evacuation from the city. "What are they doing?" she asks, as the sounds of artillery are heard in the distance.
4 An elderly woman cries before her evacuation from the city. "What are they doing?" she asks, as the sounds of artillery are heard in the distance.
5
Alla and her mother sit in a minibus waiting to be evacuated. Alla says she hopes to return home soon.
6 Alla and her mother sit in a minibus waiting to be evacuated. Alla says she hopes to return home soon.
Pets are also awaiting evacuation from Vovchansk.
7 Pets are also awaiting evacuation from Vovchansk.
8
This family is being evacuated from the village of Synelnikove, which is near Vovchansk. The woman says that they already survived the Russian occupation and remember its horrors well. Fearing for her children, she says she decided to leave her home.
9 This family is being evacuated from the village of Synelnikove, which is near Vovchansk. The woman says that they already survived the Russian occupation and remember its horrors well. Fearing for her children, she says she decided to leave her home.
10
16x9 Image

Maryan Kushnir

Maryan Kushnir has worked as a correspondent for RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service in Kyiv since 2015. He has extensive experience covering breaking news, including the conflict in eastern Ukraine. His footage from the front lines has been picked up by many international TV outlets. He has also extensively covered the COVID-19 pandemic, including reporting from within the country's intensive care units. 

Recommended

​
Back to top
XS
SM
MD
LG