Photo: Kateryna Erskaya / Facebook
Russian tanks entered our city and started to fire at civilians in the streets
Mariupol survivor told Graphite Heart how her sunny peaceful city turned overnight into a battlefield
Sep 17, 2022
Before the war, Kateryna Erskaya, 32, lived in the center of Mariupol, a city on the shore of the Sea of Azov. The woman enjoyed the view on the Peace Avenue and the Drama Theater from the windows in her apartment. But starting from 24th of February, she could only witness how her city was being turning into charred ruins.
“My husband was a policemen. We had a cozy peaceful life together and planed to have children. Then one day, Russian planes flew in the city and dropped bombs. The life we loved stopped to exist along with the Peace Avenue and the theatre both of which were destoyed”, Mrs Erskaya said.
Along with others, she joined volunteer groups that helped the most vulnerable citizens to survive in condition of war.
“I spent three weeks in the city, helping elderly people to find shelters, food and medical assistance. I saw houses collapsing after another artillery strike. Dead bodies covering the streets. Childrens playgrounds turning into graveyards because it was the only place were the dead could be buried”, Mrs Erskaya said.
When Russian troops surrounded Mariupol, citizens found themselves trapped inside with food shortages. Since humanitarian convoys were not allowed to enter the city, civilians faced famine soon.
“We lived without food, electricity, water and gas. I saw a man hunting pigeons. Then Russian tanks entered our city and started to fire at civilians in the streets.” Mrs Erskaya said.
22,000 civilians were killed or died from wounds in Mariupol, according to the latest data from Ukrainian authorities.
Before the Russian military invasion, Mariupol was home to 400,000 people.