As Russian forces tighten their grip on Pokrovsk, the situation becomes increasingly dire for the few remaining residents.
Race Against Time: Evacuating Civilians from War-Torn Pokrovsk, Ukraine
Race Against Time: Evacuating Civilians from War-Torn Pokrovsk, Ukraine
Amidst relentless attacks, volunteers like Anton Yaremchuk continue to risk their lives to rescue those trapped in the besieged city.
In the midst of Ukraine’s unyielding conflict, a race against time unfolds to evacuate residents from the front-line city of Pokrovsk. Anton Yaremchuk, a 35-year-old Ukrainian cinematographer, leads this crucial mission. Grateful for the protective blanket of fog that shields him from reconnaissance drones, he embarks on another dangerous journey, fully aware that it could be his last.
"Every time we set out, we know the risks," Anton shares, reflecting on a near-miss he experienced when shrapnel from a drone attack struck his clearly marked armored vehicle. Despite the danger, Anton remains resolute in his mission to extract civilians from the nightly chaos reigning in Pokrovsk, just 1.2 miles from advancing Russian forces.
With approximately 7,000 residents remaining, many too elderly or stubborn to leave, Anton's organization, Base UA, has successfully evacuated around 3,000 civilians since the war intensified in early 2022. The once peaceful Pokrovsk, now reduced to a battle-scarred shell, becomes a ticking time bomb of danger that risks the operational effectiveness of Ukraine's military supply chains.
As Anton and his team navigate the desolate streets littered with debris, they meet Olga, a 71-year-old woman, who reluctantly decides to leave her home of 65 years. "It’s hard to leave everything behind. But it's not life anymore, it's like hell," she states emphatically.
While hurrying through the city, Anton encounters disbelief and refusal among some residents, like an elderly woman who wishes to stay near her deceased son’s grave. "I don’t think he would want this," Anton argues gently, urging her to reconsider.
The stark reality in Pokrovsk is further amplified as the team collects evacuees who bear witness to the horrors of war; 75-year-old Lyuba describes the emptiness, saying, “There’s no gas, no water, no electricity.” With five vulnerable evacuees and a black cat in tow, the atmosphere in the armored van is heavy with unspoken trauma.
Reflecting on his experiences, Anton admits, "Every time I see this, I break down. It's human tragedies that you can never really get used to." Yet, the unnerving escalation of violence poses a new threat; a volunteer from his team recently sustained severe injuries from a drone attack, prompting Anton to temporarily halt evacuations in Pokrovsk.
Even as Anton takes a step back, the remaining residents—mostly elderly—remain exposed in the city's freezing basements and darkened homes, entirely at the mercy of relentless shelling. The pressure ramps up for organizations like Ukrainian police unit the White Angels, who continue to execute rescue missions under harrowing conditions.
As winter deepens in Ukraine, the plight of Pokrovsk’s residents serves as a chilling reminder of human resilience amidst adversity and violence, highlighting both the urgency and fragility of life amid warfare.
"Every time we set out, we know the risks," Anton shares, reflecting on a near-miss he experienced when shrapnel from a drone attack struck his clearly marked armored vehicle. Despite the danger, Anton remains resolute in his mission to extract civilians from the nightly chaos reigning in Pokrovsk, just 1.2 miles from advancing Russian forces.
With approximately 7,000 residents remaining, many too elderly or stubborn to leave, Anton's organization, Base UA, has successfully evacuated around 3,000 civilians since the war intensified in early 2022. The once peaceful Pokrovsk, now reduced to a battle-scarred shell, becomes a ticking time bomb of danger that risks the operational effectiveness of Ukraine's military supply chains.
As Anton and his team navigate the desolate streets littered with debris, they meet Olga, a 71-year-old woman, who reluctantly decides to leave her home of 65 years. "It’s hard to leave everything behind. But it's not life anymore, it's like hell," she states emphatically.
While hurrying through the city, Anton encounters disbelief and refusal among some residents, like an elderly woman who wishes to stay near her deceased son’s grave. "I don’t think he would want this," Anton argues gently, urging her to reconsider.
The stark reality in Pokrovsk is further amplified as the team collects evacuees who bear witness to the horrors of war; 75-year-old Lyuba describes the emptiness, saying, “There’s no gas, no water, no electricity.” With five vulnerable evacuees and a black cat in tow, the atmosphere in the armored van is heavy with unspoken trauma.
Reflecting on his experiences, Anton admits, "Every time I see this, I break down. It's human tragedies that you can never really get used to." Yet, the unnerving escalation of violence poses a new threat; a volunteer from his team recently sustained severe injuries from a drone attack, prompting Anton to temporarily halt evacuations in Pokrovsk.
Even as Anton takes a step back, the remaining residents—mostly elderly—remain exposed in the city's freezing basements and darkened homes, entirely at the mercy of relentless shelling. The pressure ramps up for organizations like Ukrainian police unit the White Angels, who continue to execute rescue missions under harrowing conditions.
As winter deepens in Ukraine, the plight of Pokrovsk’s residents serves as a chilling reminder of human resilience amidst adversity and violence, highlighting both the urgency and fragility of life amid warfare.
