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On the evening of 24 September, the DeepState project reported that the Russian army had occupied Ukrainsk in Donetsk Region. Around 400 people managed to evacuate from Ukrainsk, while approximately the same number remained in the city.
Oleksandr Humanyuk, head of the NGO «Rose on the Hand» and a member of the evacuation team, discussed the evacuation on Hromadske Radio.
«I had hoped the city wouldn’t fall under occupation so quickly. However, we already had experience evacuating from occupied areas in this region, such as Mikhailovka and Novogorodovka. We witnessed these places being taken, and we encountered Russians there as well.»
According to Humanyuk, about 400 people successfully left Ukrainsk, while a similar number stayed behind. Some refused to leave and sought shelter in basements, he added.
«It’s hard to say if the people who stayed are still alive. The city is shelled daily. Each day, 2-3 houses were hit, burning throughout the day. There might be no city left by now.»
The expert added that, in addition to «Rose on the Hand,» police teams also assisted in the recent evacuations from Ukrainsk. “They evacuated people almost from under the noses of the orcs,” he said. Another group, People More Precious Than Gold, was involved in earlier evacuations, along with Angels of Salvation.
«There were a few other organizations I won’t name, but I respect them greatly. However, in recent days, it was mainly us and one other woman working in Ukrainsk.»
Humanyuk noted that despite the dangerous situation, humanitarian organizations had kept the situation in Ukrainsk “quite normal” by delivering food in advance. However, a severe shortage of drinking water remained.
«The main problem is the shelling. It starts in the morning and intensifies throughout the day. By afternoon, the city is filled with smoke and ruins. In the evening, it’s a continuous curtain of smoke. The shelling is particularly intense at night.»
To request an evacuation with «Rose on the Hand,» please call the hotline: +38 098 388 86 49. You can also contact the organization via its social media page.
As a reminder, on 11 September, a group of volunteers from Troianda na Ruki (Rose on the Hand) encountered a Russian soldier while evacuating Ukrainsk, in the Pokrovsk district. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Humanyuk explained that on 11 September, while following a conditionally safe road, the group came under attack from an enemy FPV drone. Their vehicle wasn’t damaged, and they continued to Ukrainsk to evacuate five adults and one child.
During the evacuation, Oleksandr’s partner spotted a Russian soldier approaching their vehicle.
«We started hiding around the car, but he saw us. He was quite cautious and didn’t shoot at first; instead, he chose to assess the situation, though it was a big risk for him», — Oleksandr recounted.