No water, no electricity, and damaged gas lines and buildings in Huliaipole in southeastern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, portray a creepy scene of the city, barely 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the front line and vulnerable to Russian army attacks.
Prior to Russia's war on Ukraine in February last year, the city had a population of about 20,000 people. Only 3,000 people live now, and they are constantly exposed to the sounds of loud and minor explosions, as well as firing between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
"The war situation continues. The city is under constant attacks, which recently intensified as bombs are being dropped on the city from the air," Huliaipole Mayor Serhiy Yarmak told Anadolu.
"Some houses and buildings have become unusable. There has been no water, gas, or electricity in the city since last year." Yarmak said.
Yarmak explained that Russian attacks have damaged all critical infrastructure in the city, including playgrounds, schools, hospitals, and administrative structures.
Huliaipole had a population of approximately 20,000 prior to the war, but only about 3,000 people continue to live in the city, he added.
"The situation of these people is difficult. Many of them stay in their home basements to protect themselves from attacks. These citizens are provided with humanitarian aid, food, and water twice a month. Several water wells are operational in the city. Firefighters also receive requests at certain times," he said.
“I did not want to leave my home,” Natalia, who did not want to give her surname for security reasons, told Anadolu.
"Where can I go? I don't have the strength or the money to do this. We're used to the current situation. We don't want anymore," she said, hoping that "once the attacks stop, we can live our lives in peace and tranquility."
Natalia believed that those who have left the city would not return because the entire city has been damaged and rendered unusable.
