Press officer of the 100th Brigade: Kostiantynivka has ceased to exist as a living city

The need for evacuation over a year ago

Serhiy Khomynskyi, press officer of the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade, stated on Slawa.TV that the situation with the civilian population of Kostiantynivka became critical more than a year ago. According to him, the moment arrived when it became obvious that the further presence of peaceful residents in the city was dangerous.

«Насправді з Костянтинівки треба було обов’язково евакуюватися більше як рік тому. Знаєте, настав такий момент, коли для мене було очевидно, що цивільним далі перебувати там не можна. На жаль, якась частина людей ухвалила рішення не евакуюватися» (In fact, it was necessary to evacuate from Kostiantynivka more than a year ago. You know, the moment came when it was obvious to me that civilians could not stay there any longer. Unfortunately, some people decided not to evacuate), he noted.

Hellish survival conditions in the ruins

According to Khomynskyi, the current state of the city can be described as hellish. Living conditions are absolutely inhumane, as there is no utility provision whatsoever.

«Умови в Костянтинівці зараз є просто пекельними. Це пекло війни. Це, власне, абсолютно нелюдські умови. Про наявність опалення, чи каналізації, чи електроенергії, в принципі, вже не йдеться. Це, власне, може бути якесь виживання в руїнах, виживання в якихось напівзавалених підвалах. Звичайно, допускати таку ситуацію не можна було» (Conditions in Kostiantynivka are now simply hellish. It is the hell of war. These are, in fact, absolutely inhumane conditions. There is basically no talk of heating, sewage, or electricity. It is, in fact, some kind of survival in the ruins, survival in some half-collapsed basements. Of course, such a situation should not have been allowed), says Serhiy Khomynskyi.

Loss of city status

The officer is convinced that the refusal to evacuate over a year ago was a mistaken decision for those who stayed. He emphasised that the city has lost its familiar appearance and functionality.

«На жаль, місто як місто вже не існує. Як живе місто. Тобто лишаються понівечені будівлі, лишаються руїни. Тобто, не можна сказати, що воно стерте під нуль з лиця землі. Ні, там ще є будівлі, понищені, але є. Але як про живе місто Костянтинівка, на превеликий жаль, вже не йдеться» (Unfortunately, the city as a city no longer exists. As a living city. That is, damaged buildings remain, ruins remain. That is, one cannot say that it has been wiped out to zero from the face of the earth. No, there are still buildings there, damaged, but they are there. But as for Kostiantynivka as a living city, to great regret, it is no longer a question).