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Semenivka: Life on the Brink – A Town Under Siege
Reporting from the front lines, March 15, 2025
Just nine kilometers from the russian border, Semenivka faced the brutal reality of war from its very first hour. The road leading to the regional centre bears witness to the conflict, marked by the effigy of Putin subjected to a symbolic execution. Despite enduring only a month of occupation, the horrors of war are a daily occurrence here. Near the bombed-out city hall, a vehicle donated by benefactors from Latvia stands as a symbol of hope, gratefully received by the town’s mayor, who is determined to showcase the devastation inflicted by Russia.
The mayor, Dedenko, reflects on the town’s pre-war state: Before the war, everything was renovated. It’s a pity. We’ll have to start from scratch.
Currently, only the ground floor of the building is usable, with the third floor rendered unusable, a stark reminder of what remains of the grand hall.
The situation is notably dire in the settlements closer to the border. the mayor of Semenivka explains, We have populated areas closer to the border. Places where the last house is 100 meters from the state border. Almost all of these populated areas have been evacuated because the situation is so unsafe. It has become perilous, and people left on their own. Some villages are wholly burned down. Last year,there was abnormal heat,and gardens and fields were left uncultivated. There were weeds and everything… And any explosion caused the dry grass to ignite, and it all went to the villages, and they burned down. (..) Some populated areas completely burned down. Only the stoves with chimneys remained, like they showed in World War II.
Shelling has become a constant threat, with the mayor noting that attacks began as early as New Year’s night, and the heaviest strikes in the first days of January left apartment buildings without windows in the freezing cold.
There was a time when we wondered how to live until tomorrow. We even joked in Semenivka – well, what are our plans? Well – to live until morning! That’s the plan. (..) because we don’t know what will happen tomorrow.
the remnants of war are scattered throughout the town. well – here I want to show – such things are lying around all over the city. These are parts of aerial bombs, rockets, and everything else that is designed to kill peaceful residents… And we have all sorts of these, and these remains can be noticed promptly… (..) this was the epicenter of the hit. order has already been established here. It was so destroyed here… (..) The shock wave went to residential buildings, to the hotel. We have already replaced this. Here, the roofs of multi-story buildings were destroyed.Here, for exmaple, there are 16 apartments, the roof was completely destroyed. We already repaired it in January.We are repairing this roof with the help of the International Red Cross, which gives us materials. The brigade is ours, but the materials were provided by donors,
the mayor of Semenivka points out.
Among the damaged buildings was a house that once housed a TV repair shop, a hairdresser, and a gym.
Oleksiy, a resident of Semenivka and owner of the TV repair shop, recounts his experience: I worked here for 34 years. In one place. At first,together with my father. My father died a year ago. He was here until the very end. It’s good that he didn’t experience those horrors. As you saw, the hit was five meters away from that other side. Well, that’s it… only firewood remains.
Despite the devastation, he remains resilient: Well, I’ll try to survive, to live and survive.
Other structures that have suffered include the house where the children and youth creative center is located,as well as the former bank building and the police station. Missile strikes have destroyed the cultural center with its concert hall and the city archive housed within. Medical facilities, including doctorates and hospital buildings, have also been bombed or damaged by explosions.
Fortunately, most of the attacks occur at night, minimizing casualties in public spaces.
But the danger is constant, and the general Ukrainian air raid system does not help to warn about air raids here. Because Russia is too close.
Dedenko elaborates on the lack of warning: therefore,when the Russians bring cannons to the border,no one warns us about it. These are such local cases. Therefore, it leaves its mark
Semenivka: Life on the Brink - A Town Under Siege – Your Questions Answered
Reporting from the front lines, March 15, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions About Life in Semenivka
- Where is Semenivka located, and how has its proximity to the Russian border affected the town?
- Semenivka is located just nine kilometers from the Russian border.This proximity has meant the town has faced the brutal realities of war as the beginning of the conflict. Shelling is a constant threat, and the lack of adequate warning systems due to the close proximity makes the situation especially perilous.[1, 2]
- What is the current state of Semenivka’s infrastructure?
- semenivka’s infrastructure has been heavily damaged by Russian attacks. the city hall has been bombed, with only the ground floor currently usable.many apartment buildings have sustained damage,particularly to windows and roofs. Critical infrastructure like the cultural center, city archive, medical facilities (including doctorates and hospitals), the former bank building, and the police station have also been targeted and damaged or destroyed.[3]
- What has been the impact on the local population?
- The situation in Semenivka is dire for the local population. Many populated areas close to the border have been evacuated due to unsafe conditions. The mayor mentioned that some villages have been completely burned down. the constant shelling creates an surroundings of fear and uncertainty, with residents joking about simply trying to survive each day.
- What kind of support is Semenivka receiving?
- Semenivka is receiving support from various sources. A vehicle was donated by benefactors from Latvia. The International Red Cross is providing materials to help repair damaged roofs.[3] Despite this aid, the overall need is critically importent, and the town faces a long road to recovery. Local brigades are utilized for repairs where materials are available.
- How are the attacks impacting residents’ daily lives and livelihoods?
- Attacks have disrupted nearly every aspect of daily life in Semenivka. The constant threat of shelling forces many to live in a state of uncertainty. Businesses have been destroyed, livelihoods lost, and access to essential services significantly reduced. Oleksiy, a local TV repair shop owner, lost his buisness of 34 years to the shelling. The damage to infrastructure also makes it arduous for residents to access medical care and other crucial services.
- What are the biggest challenges facing the town of semenivka now?
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The biggest challenges include:
- Constant shelling and the lack of an effective early warning system.
- Extensive damage to critical infrastructure, including homes, schools, and medical facilities.
- Displacement of the population and the loss of livelihoods.
- The psychological impact of living under constant threat of attack.
- When did the shelling begin to intensify in Semenivka?
- According to the mayor, shelling intensified around New Year’s night, with particularly heavy strikes occurring in the first days of January, leaving apartment buildings without windows in the cold.
- What is the state of agriculture and what is the importance of wild fires?
- Due to the risks,there was abnormal heat last year so gardens and fields were left uncultivated. There were weeds and everything… And any explosion caused the dry grass to ignite, and it all went to the villages, and they burned down impacting entire populated areas.