Russia’s offensive on Kharkiv region 2024: people are forced to leave their homes and flee under the merciless blows of Russia

The Russian army is cynically shelling the border areas of Kharkiv Oblast without a break.

In the Kharkiv region, the evacuation of Lypetsk and Vovchan communities continues. About two hundred people remain there at the moment. During this time, it was possible to evacuate more than 7,000 people. In Kharkiv, they are provided with housing and everything they need.

IDPs from Vovchansk are met in Kharkiv by volunteers and rescuers. Elderly and sick people are brought out under arms. Many have severe stress. People experienced another hellish night, after which many dared to leave their homes.

Mrs. Natalya arrived with only two bags. But the most important thing – I was able to take my dog.

“We were afraid to even go to the well to collect water,” she says.

Valentina, a resident of Kharkiv region, talks about merciless shelling. She notes that the police are rescuing locals under heavy fire from Russian artillery. She notes that they had to leave all their possessions in order to save themselves.

On the fifth day of the evacuation, even those who had flatly refused to do so dared to flee, the volunteers say. Ms. Natalya is among them. Her husband has a kitten under his jacket, the woman has an icon. Their street is completely destroyed, says Ms. Natalya. Miraculously, their home survived.

There were no undamaged houses left in Vovchansk and Liptsy. The Russians drop dozens of aerial bombs on villages and towns. People hoped that everything would end soon, but the fear of occupation still forced them to leave.

People arrive at the evacuation point in Kharkiv and here everyone receives the attention of volunteers. First – tea and food, then – processing documents and receiving humanitarian packages, after which people are taken to hostels or to relatives.

“Monetary aid is provided in the amount of, if I’m not mistaken, 9-10 thousand hryvnias for each person. People register in a common database and then monetary aid from international partners arrives on their bank card,” says Yevhen Kolyada, head of the Humanitarian Coordination Center.

In five days, the police and rescuers evacuated seven and a half thousand people from Vovchanska and Lypetsk communities. Half a thousand of them are children. The authorities and volunteers call on residents of the border to make a decision to evacuate as soon as possible and contact hotlines for help in leaving.