Highlights: Ukraine: in Koupiansk, the difficult daily life of residents exhausted by two years of war. Located less than 10 kilometers from the front, the town experienced Russian occupation between February and September 2022. It was recaptured by the Ukrainians after bitter fighting, but the Russian army is now trying to regain the place. “We no longer really feel optimistic, people are tired, because nothing is moving in the right direction. It's a bit depressing, especially when you hear the fighting,” explains the shopkeeper.

Ukraine has entered its second year of full-scale war with Russia, with difficulties piling up at several points along the front line. This is the case in the Kupiansk region,…

REPORTING

Ukraine: in Koupiansk, the difficult daily life of residents exhausted by two years of war

Ukraine has entered its second year of full-scale war with Russia, with difficulties piling up at several points along the front line.

This is the case in the Kupiansk region, in the northeast, where the Ukrainian military is strengthening its defense lines.

Located less than 10 kilometers from the front, the town experienced Russian occupation between February and September 2022. It was recaptured by the Ukrainians after bitter fighting, but the Russian army is now trying to regain the place. .

For the residents who have decided to stay, daily life is difficult.

Listen - 01:22

A resident of Koupiansk walks past a building damaged by a Russian army bombing, February 18, 2024. AFP - SERGEY BOBOK

By: RFI Follow

With our special correspondents in Koupiansk

Anastasia Becchio

and

Boris Vicith

Trucks and military vehicles cross Kupiansk (Kharkiv oblast), a devastated city as Ukraine has just

commemorated two years since the start of the Russian invasion

Municipal employees in fluorescent vests are busy caulking the windows of a building hit by a bombing the day before.

Soldiers and elderly people line up in Valentina's well-stocked grocery store.

Regularly, muffled explosions are heard.

“

I get scared sometimes, but I stayed for the people, for the soldiers.
We no longer really feel optimistic, people are tired, because nothing is moving in the right direction.
It's a bit depressing, especially when you hear the fighting.
All we have to do now is pray: hold on, guys!
We are behind you, but hold on

,” explains the shopkeeper.

Also read: Ukraine: morale at half mast of Ukrainian troops on the front near Kupiansk

On the market, the stands of military equipment are more numerous than the stalls of meat and smoked bacon.

Lipstick and neat outfit, Tatiana, 70 years old, retired economics-management teacher, came to stock up.

Her husband took refuge in Kharkiv, but she did not want to follow him: “

We have a very difficult life.
The day before yesterday, there were aerial bombardments.
They dropped 12 bombs.
The Russians are making us miserable.
This is the murder of the Ukrainian people.
I'm waiting for them to finally stop shooting.

A louder explosion rang out.

Tatiana smiles: “

That’s ours who are shooting.

Also read: Ukraine: what these two years of war have changed for Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukraine: in Koupiansk, the difficult daily life of residents exhausted by two years of war

Ukraine: in Koupiansk, the difficult daily life of residents exhausted by two years of war

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest