Nicolas Tonev (special envoy to the Donbass)
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07:57, February 18, 2023
As the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches, pressure from the Russian military is growing. Bombings are almost daily on the city of Kramatorsk and its surroundings, gradually emptying the regional capital of its inhabitants. The special envoy of Europe 1 went to the large Kramatorsk market.
About forty kilometers from the front line of Bakhmout, the city of Kramatorsk. The Russian offensive has not weakened in recent weeks, leading to almost daily bombardments on the regional capital and its surroundings. The city gradually empties of its inhabitants and begins to become a ghost town. On site, the large Kramatorsk market has lost its light. Here, the music in the outdoor aisles is a decoy.
A ghost town
Under the halls, fruit and vegetable stalls follow the creamery and clothing, in the same gloom: there are few or no customers. Dimitri, a butcher, cuts his pork chops in depression. “We lost 40 to 50% of sales. Morale is like everyone else’s, we get used to it …”, he confides at the microphone of Europe 1. At his side, Valentina, seller of bacon. “There are few people. They have left or been evacuated. The soldiers are buying but not much.”
A particular product is frequently purchased: knives, preferably those that resemble weapons that can be used in war, describes the special envoy of Europe 1 on the spot. This is also the good deal of this seller, Anton, who offers a collection of blades sold for ten euros or more.
The Europeans say they are ready to step up their support for kyiv in the face of a protracted conflict. At the Munich Security Conference, Emmanuel Macron declared that “Russian aggression must fail”.