Grigoriy from Severodonetsk:

“I used to live on Kurchatova street. When the bombing started, I moved to Donetsk to live with my brother, but it wasn’t any better there. We lived like that until April 5th, when we were finally able to evacuate,” says Grigoriy.

He worked at some of the city’s major enterprises – first for 17 years as a 6th grade locksmith at “Impulse”, then as a 5th grade toolmaker at “Azot”. Soon after, he was injured – he fell awkwardly on an icy patch and ended up in a wheelchair. He is 43 years old, and as he jokes, “I’ve been walking for 39 of them.”

“My brother was behind the wheel, I’m disabled, my bedridden mother was with us, and they even took my dog – Matviy, who is already 11 years old. I found him in the garages in Sirotyne, took him in, and couldn’t bear to give him up. How could I leave a friend behind? I don’t understand,” says Grigoriy.

He adds that he also has a son who is currently serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and he is very proud of him. But they have nowhere to return after the victory – their home is destroyed, and marauders have been in his apartment.

“We left under shelling, and a fragment of a shell hit our car. Look at the holes,” says the man from Severodonetsk.

Despite this, Grigoriy jokes and smiles. He says he’s in a normal psychological state, but he’s saddened that he can’t help to set up the shelter. He’s doing what he can – sharpening knives for all the residents.

Машина з дірками від обстрілів

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Grigory’s car was damaged after a shell fragment hit it