Lydia was lately rescued from the Azovstal iron and metal plant after two months of Russian bombardment. She doesn’t need to inform us her actual title and the place she is at the moment dwelling, for worry of endangering her mother and father who’re nonetheless in Mariupol.
In her first days in a safe place nonetheless in Ukraine, she remains to be very disoriented and scared. She says she wanted per week earlier than with the ability to converse with anybody about her state of affairs. Her face appears to be like drained and pale, and her eyes are full of terror — which solely eases as she begins talking about how her evacuation convoy lastly reached its vacation spot.
DW: How did you come to be on the Azovstal metal plant, and the way lengthy have been you there?
Lydia, I labored within the manufacturing facility and I knew that it had specifically geared up air raid bunkers. On March 6, when the bombardments turned an excessive amount of to bear, my husband and I made a decision to search out security within the basement there. I knew it was protected. But we thought we would solely be there for a few days. In the top, we have been there for 2 months.
How many individuals sought refuge there?
That’s laborious to say; throughout the previous few weeks nobody bothered counting anymore. In the start there have been about 30 of us, however folks have been at all times coming and going, new folks arrived. At one level we figured there have been about 47 of us, however the numbers have been always altering. Before the evacuation it was unattainable to say simply how many individuals have been there.
File picture of smoke rising from the Metallurgical Combine Azovstal in Mariupol throughout shelling, in Mariupol, in territory beneath the federal government of the Donetsk People’s Republic, japanese Ukraine. (AP)
Ukrainian authorities have mentioned the manufacturing facility was beneath fixed bombardment. Was it ever potential to go away the bunker?
In the start we have been in a position to go outdoors for longer stretches, however when the bombardments began to choose up we solely went out to prepare dinner on the hearth pit. In the top we simply stayed within the bunker. There are tunnels down there the place we cooked. From about April 20, we not went outdoors. We did not exit for the final two weeks.
Where did you get meals?
There have been provisions within the bunkers, positioned there by the manufacturing facility’s directors. But there wasn’t a lot — simply sufficient for a number of days. The bunkers have been constructed within the Nineteen Sixties when nobody thought folks could be there for very lengthy. There have been canned items, water, cookies and preserved meat. We stretched it so far as we may by making soup out of all of it. In the start new arrivals would deliver meals, blankets and heat clothes with them. But not everybody shared their meals. Some at beneath their blankets. Everyone is completely different.
What form of assist did the Ukrainian navy present? Russian propaganda claimed they compelled you to remain at Azovstal in opposition to your will.
No, my husband and I left and returned to the bunker a number of instances whereas it was nonetheless potential. But when the heavy bombardments began we needed to keep within the bunker. Sometimes troopers got here in. They introduced sweets for the youngsters. They informed us we have been free to go outdoors however on the identical time they warned us in regards to the huge bombing.
Were there sick or wounded folks within the bunker with you? Was anybody in a position to assist them?
There have been no wounded, however there have been individuals who wanted medical help. I wanted assist myself. I’ve a blood dysfunction and wish day by day injections however nobody may get them for me. There have been additionally individuals who wanted day by day insulin injections however they could not get them. One man had such excessive ache in his arm that he wanted painkillers. He screamed all evening lengthy.
Do you recognize individuals who volunteered to go to the Donetsk area? Was it clear to you the place you’ll be taken in the course of the evacuation?
We knew completely nothing. Our troopers got here in and informed us we had 5 minutes to get our issues collectively and go outdoors to be evacuated. Those who had prepared backpacks acquired up and left. I do not know who was taken to Donetsk or Russia. When we acquired outdoors we have been greeted by folks from the UN and the Red Cross. They informed us we have been protected and that nobody would shoot at us. We may select the place we needed to go after we have been filtered.
Where precisely did that filtration happen?
I do not know. It was at a spot I had by no means been earlier than.
What occurred in the course of the filtration?
[Long pause, as Lydia drops her head and closes her eyes] I’m not going to speak about that.
How lengthy was the journey from the Azovstal plant to the place the place you got shelter?
I do not know. I can not even estimate. We left the Azovstal plant at evening and arrived on the filtration level round midnight. After that we drove for a very long time.
Who met you at your vacation spot? Did you obtain assist?
We have been very warmly welcomed! We obtained recent clothes and new footwear and we may wash up. People got here and have been always bringing us meals, hygiene merchandise and different issues. We had completely no issues. We have been put up in a separate room the place we may keep comfortably and get a pleasing sleep.
Do you might have a spot to remain now? Do you propose to journey on?
I actually do not know. I’m nonetheless unsure what precisely occurred. First I simply need to relaxation. That’s all.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
