“No one wants to leave. People do not believe that there will be a war "

Residents of the LPR and the DPR are evacuated to Russia. We talked with those who decided to stay

On February 18, against the backdrop of an aggravation of the situation in the Donbass, the authorities of self -proclaimed DPR and LPR announced the evacuation of residents to Russia, the next morning the authorities of the republics began universal mobilization. Thousands of evacuated have already arrived on the territory of Russia (mainly in the Rostov region). However, many residents of Donbass decided to stay in their homes. Medusa talked with some of them.

Elena

Shakhtersk

We have quiet, very quiet. Although explosions were heard from Gorlovka tonight. But the transport works, all communications work, there is communication, there is the Internet. I know that in Novoazovsk it was also quiet all night - although the frontline city, but no shelling.

In 2014-2016, I did not leave here, I was constantly here-they survived the whole war. In 2014, the shops did not work, the transport did not go-it was two months. There were shelling of Shakhtersk. There was even a tank battle at seven in the morning [in July 2014]-then they fired at the Ukrainian column of tanks, simply smashed it. In general, then it was much tougher - the shells flew above us, now this is not.

[Now] Many came SMC about what everyone needs to evacuate. Those who have small children and old people call up [report evacuation]. From today, a decree has been issued that children's education have been suspended, we are again sitting at home.

Regarding the mobilization of some mothers, a panic: "Oh, I do not want my child to go." I say: “This is the right of my child, I want - please. It will be necessary, then it will be necessary. ” I have a son - draft age, he is a reservist, went to exercises several times. I talked to him this morning, asked if he had come to him: he said, so far there was nothing.

I don't want to leave anywhere myself. Nobody is waiting for us anywhere - and work, you understand. No one wants to leave. People do not believe that there will be a war. And I do not believe: look, nothing will happen. I am sure, that's all. We are no longer afraid, we are so used to everything for so many years.

It seems to me that this is all politics. [Once] Russia wanted to recognize our republics. Then [President Vladimir] Putin said: "No, no, I will not recognize." Now you need to make a precedent. Since Ukraine attacks the DPR and LPR] means that we will do? We recognize them, since there are many of our citizens - those who received a Russian passport.

It is not clear why and why this is happening right now. [In recent years] we lived peacefully with Ukraine and Russia. We went to Ukraine calmly - there were no problems, everything was fine. The only thing when coronavirus began and our checkpoints closed, it was possible to leave only with the permission of the DPR headquarters, and it was very difficult to obtain permission to leave. We had to ride through Russia-I somehow drove to Kyiv for 28 hours.

[In my opinion], Ukraine was not going to attack [on the LPR and the DPR]. Yesterday I watched Ukrainian news on Ukraine 24 and there [People's Deputy Dmitry] Razumkov spoke. He says: "We will not [attack], this is our territory, our people."

At first, everyone waited for Russia to attack on February 16. I have relatives in Ukraine, they were also afraid, because they inflated such a panic. At the moment, we are sitting here with the same panic. Now Ukraine is attacking us. This is all politics, I think. There will be nothing. These night shelling in Gorlovka ... I think these are provocations from the DPR.

There will be no real military operations, believe me. I'm completely sure, this is such a farce. Another week and everything will pass. A beautiful picture will be shown from the LPR and the DPR, and that’s it.

But, of course, everyone wants Russia to recognize us, because [for example] the banking system would work differently. Now everything works incomprehensible how. And if they recognized us, maybe something would have changed. And so we are unrecognized - as Transnistria.

Natalia Seregina

Donetsk

I did not leave anywhere, because they would not renounce loving ... I cannot, of course, say that it is not scary to stay. It’s not scary only to a fool and a boastful fool. But where to run? Here my old parents, husband, children, relatives remained in the field. [We stay] through fear ...

I have no strong confidence that the war can be avoided. Everything can be. Excessive confidence in peaceful permission can fail, and take away the latest spiritual forces.

At any moment, everything may not go according to plan. But I did not persuade my children to leave. You see, my older children are civil servants. They will not go anywhere. The youngest will also remain with us to the end.

Denis

Donetsk

I am against evacuation. I think that my land is here, it will save me.

My family and I did not run anywhere in 2014 and now we decided to stay here. I am 45 years old, I recently suffered a heart attack, angina pectoris beats, but if there is a real batch, then, of course, I even go against the Ukrofashists with a pitchfork. In the case of hostilities, my main task is to protect my family and land.

As for the real situation in the city, I can say that what is shown on the zombie is strongly inflated. Not everyone is ready to leave. Many have lived here since 2014, they continue to live.

Eugene

Donetsk

I live on the outskirts. We had a little shot yesterday afternoon and today-in the distance. I think that the locals themselves mined the infrastructure in the city. It seems to me that they did not even bother. If only from Hollywood they hired someone in order to make something more likely. To blow up the “UAZ” in the city center and say that this is the “UAZ” by the police chief is not even funny. I have not seen a single police chief at the UAZ. I think that the authorities of the DPR themselves wind up everything. I believe in the invasion of Ukraine, but this is no longer necessary for Ukraine.

A religious contingent - businessmen, politicians, bandits - all left this territory in 2014. I stayed, I was wondering what would happen. But I will not go for this power. I won’t go to protect my homeland, because I consider another country to consider my homeland. I was born a Ukrainian, a Ukrainian and I am going to get, I am not going to receive a Russian passport.

In general, “power” is a compliment for these people. How can a person without education manage people with education? [Former head of the DPR Alexander] Zakharchenko was at least the same as us - poor fellow from the people.

[And the head of the DPR Denis] Pushilin, so that you understand: in 2010, when I worked for the Donbass Arena, a MMM tent stood near the stadium, and Denis Vladimirovich put on his grandmothers, told her grandmothers to put their grandmothers. Do you think this is a worthy president to go for him [fight]? This is not a republic-it is ***** [nonsense] from under the nails.

Alexander

Makeevka

If you compare with 2014, now silence, it’s quiet on the street. Yes, it bangs, but far somewhere. People panic, go to markets, buy potatoes, pasta, everything they only see. And buckwheat, buckwheat is the most important thing.

In 2014-2015, I myself left for the territory of Ukraine, because it is not known what will happen. And now the habit is already - well, Bahahs and Bahah.

The evacuation is announced. Some are ticking somewhere for somewhere. And who worked as it works. Everything is usually terrified, but panic brought that we need to tick.

Basically, friends and acquaintances say: “Well, nafig. Where? What to do there? " If you read the news , then people write: "We arrived, sit in the field in buses, do nothing." It’s easier at home, probably. I stay at work tomorrow.

Where to go? Well, let's go. Who is waiting for us there? Nobody. All relatives are mainly in Ukraine. Going to Russia is nothing to catch there. There it’s hard for you without us. If you take small towns - not Moscow and Peter - people live as much as we do. It is no different.

[At the same time] in recent years, everything has become much worse - roads, work. The roads brought into the squalor, people drive every day, they break through the wheels. This is not a war, this is management. People - those who are in power - are trying to fill their pockets with money.

I am a conscript. Now they say that they already go home and give summons, but no one has come to me yet. I don't want to fight. I think this is not necessary. People are trying to fill their pockets, share power. Someone needs a portfolio [and position], someone needs money. Now in power those who used to be nobody. And now they have the authority, and they are trying to come up with something. Who wanted to go to fight was already going. Now the army is just earnings.

Many on the Internet compare [current position] and 1941 or 1945. Then people fought for their homeland, the Germans advanced, and now who to go against fighting? Against brothers and sisters on the other side? Many have relatives in Ukraine. For many. Yes, probably everyone. There is simply no point in going to fight.

The general mood is: "I want at least somewhere we have already accepted us." The Russia accepted - well, they would live and live. The Ukraine accepted - also good. Now we are in the intermediate zone. And there [in Russia] it seems good, and there [in Ukraine] is good. And here, as always, everything is not very good.