Ukrainian civilians brave Russian assault in Avdiivka, residents struggle to Survive

In the war-torn town of Avdiivka, as Russian missiles rain down, the indomitable spirit of its remaining residents endures despite the relentless assault. Hanna, one such resident, grapples with the heartbreaking decision to flee while her elderly mother adamantly refuses to abandon her home.

In a phone interview, Hanna emotionally expresses her dilemma, saying, “I can’t leave her. She wants to sleep in her own bed. She’s 71 and has mobility issues. If she stays alone, she can’t access water or wood for heating.” Holed up precariously in their fifth-floor flat, they live under constant threat of bombardment and air strikes, joining the dwindling number of Avdiivka’s inhabitants.

Avdiivka, a strategically vital town fiercely contested on the eastern front of Ukraine, has seen most of its populace escape. Although conflict has raged here since 2014, the recent full-scale Russian invasion last February has further reduced the population from over 30,000 to just over 1,000. This month, Russia launched a major offensive on the town, intensifying the fighting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the situation as “particularly tough.”

Hanna paints a bleak picture of life in Avdiivka, lamenting, “Windows and doors are broken everywhere. With daily attacks, it’s a Sisyphean task to repair them.” Often described as the gateway to the occupied city of Donetsk, taking Avdiivka would allow Russian forces to push the front line back, making it harder for Ukrainian forces to reclaim the territory.

Venturing to the last surviving shop in town is a perilous endeavor, as Hanna warns, “There are no hiding spots in case of an attack…if you hear a whistle, there’s not enough time to seek safety.” That shop has now been obliterated, leaving Avdiivka’s residents reliant on government-built facilities known as Points of Invincibility, providing food, warmth, power, and refuge.

Maryna, a nurse in her 40s, volunteers at one such facility, having moved in after her home’s doors and windows were blown off in an attack. Even in the relative safety of the basement, she reveals, “Missiles fly every night, day and night. Too many of them. Everyone feels fear.” Her grown-up son has already fled Avdiivka, and she hopes to follow suit.

However, evacuating people from the besieged town is a treacherous task. The White Angels, a special police unit, leads these operations, though convincing people to leave is often a challenging endeavor. Hennadiy Yudin, a member of the crew, reports bringing 50 people to safety in the last week but underscores the deteriorating situation in the area. “There are constant attacks on the town and nearby villages,” he notes, adding that various forms of artillery and aerial attacks threaten the lives of residents.

As Maryna prepares for evacuation, she fondly reminisces about Avdiivka before the outbreak of war. “There was a park, a boulevard, plenty of shops. We planted trees. It was very beautiful here. We had a cultural center, numerous festivals, and celebrations.” She holds onto the hope of one day returning, even as she shelters amid the ruins of her hometown, fearing there may be little left to come back to. “There is no Avdiivka anymore,” she laments.