Ukraine

Ukraine between war and peace

A year after the second Minsk agreement, it is in the Northern part of the Front in the administrative district of Luhansk quiet. There, you can guess how it might look, should the conflict from freezing. From Luhansk Frank Hofmann.

Where once the Windows were, there are still only rußgeschwärzte holes. The Granatbeschuss has most of the apartments in the panel of the town Lysytschansk uninhabitable. And yet, living here still two pensioners, “the second floor”, says Fjudor Alexandrovich outside on the street, while his neighbour Nina Hutujchowa comes to this. The fate of the two 66-Year-old in a peculiar way. “My husband is in 2014 after a serious illness died,” she says – so how Alexandrowitschs wife. Hutujchowa lives a floor above him, both of them are widowed.

Welded together by the war: The neighbors Fjudor Alexandrovich and Nina Hutujchowa

Flowing water, there is none more. In the summer of 2014, the building is bombed out, has been, as the Ukrainian troops, pro-Russian separatists out of the city with its 100,000 inhabitants, were expelled. It is one of these in the war which has become famous for building the most people in the Ukraine from the television. “Power we have,” say the two. Bit. So that you can each have a room with heating. The city Council had the two 66-Year-old a Alternativunterkunft offered. “But it’s actually for the homeless,” says the petite Nina Hutujchow. Then stay you prefer to be in the dilapidated prefab buildings in the floor above your neighbor. Both hope to still money from the government “compensation” for their destroyed homes. With the money, everyone could have a new home to buy. “I want to be sure that me to the apartment also belongs,” says Fjudor Alexandrovich. “We have our mayor to be written and also the Prime Minister Jazenjuk.” No Answer. The reconstruction can wait.

Opportunity for the reconstruction?

Jeff Wilkinson, Director of the regional UNHCR offices

And this is the case in most of the towns along the frontline in the administrative district of Luhansk. Two-thirds of the territory are under the control of the Kiev Central government, the regional capital of Luhansk, however, is occupied by the pro-Russian separatists. The state administration is, therefore, moved in the industrial city of Severodonezk North of the front line. Here forwards Jeff Wilkinson, the regional office of the UN Flüchtlingshilfswerkes. While further South in the Region of Donetsk every day the armistice is broken, looks like the Canadians here at the top chances for the reconstruction. “There are thousands of families affected by this conflict and possibly opens the door a crack, so that the people can be helped.” A year ago, was also here in the North-East of Ukraine due to fierce fighting have been impossible.

Alone in the Luhansker the administrative district life, according to the United Nations with 244.000 more than a quarter of the territory of Ukraine, displaced persons, refugees. However, during the Ukraine-conflict international in oblivion, takes the Kiev government is hardly for the people along the Front.

Russia will remain

The residents of the front street of the Stanitsa of Luhansk have worst bombings had to endure

On behalf of the UN refugee Agency the non-governmental organisation Norwegian refugee Council (NRC), a programme of reconstruction to the South of the new district capital Severodonezk launched. Two new houses were yet to be rebuilt. “We will begin with a pilot project”, says Tatiana Stepykina, for 30 rich the money total. The Anglistin is itself Displaced people from the rebel stronghold city of Luhansk, where she attended the University of has worked.

You and your colleagues were at the beginning of the conflict two years ago, quickly in the eyes of the pro-Russian Rebellenchefs. “I’m afraid Russia is in our country come, to stay,” she says without illusions. If the Ukraine wool, could be the occupied territory, perhaps even to win back. “But this is politically not wanted.” It would probably only further the terrible Fight is possible – if Russia again, with troops, in contrast, considers how well even a year ago than in Minsk the second peace Treaty under the German and French supervision was negotiated. Remains the idea that the front line for a longer time innerukrainische border remains in the best case, with Transitions to the civilian population.

Hours And Hours Of Queue

Not more war but no peace: resident in Stanitsa Luhansk

In the extreme North-East is thus a Transition is a bridge between the Ukrainian-held town of stanitsa Luhansk and the old, the regional capital Luhansk, further to the South. At temperatures below zero, people stand in line. Not rarely wait more than three hours. “Fortunately, there is a tent to warm up,” says one of the Ukrainian border guards controlled page.

You can always only three, four of the Waiting on the visit from Relatives again on the Rebellenseite want. Their passports to be checked, then the bags with the purchases. “I have food and clothing, bought. We have over there in Luhansk, but is more expensive than here. With the money we get you can’t survive,” says the man. With the outbreak of war in 2014, everything was more expensive. Many also collect their pension. Some now receive two pensions “a Russian”, they say here in the queue, and “the Ukrainian”.

Criticism of the rebels

Since the Wirtschaftsblockade of the Kiev government towards the occupied territories at the end of 2014, this is the only way. Bank Transfers were then locked. Previously had the rebels but everything has already been stolen, says Lubow Awertschelko. “In Luhansk, they have all broken the ATM and the banks.” The Pensioner who is brave and keeps up with their criticism against the rebel Regime, not back. She now lives on both sides of the inner-Ukrainian border in Luhansk is the dwelling of the family. Their children, but were already on the Ukrainian-controlled side of the Front.

Somehow, life will go on. In front of the bombed-out slab in Lysytschansk remember Nina Hutujchowa. The 66-year-old Pensioner, with your neighbors on some money from the state hopes to make you a new apartment can buy. Just quietly speaks to you about an idea that your fate is a new twist could give: “If we both have our pensions did that, we could maybe rent an apartment”.