#donetsk

1st September 1990: The opening of Donetsk Specialised Humanitarian School No. 65, the first Ukrainian school in Donetsk to be restored into the Ukrainian language at the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Metallurgical Plant, Ukrainian SSR, Donetsk, 1934

First "musical masterpiece" just repeats "Vladimir Putin". Then some guy proudly declares: "Korean history is written in the blood of a russian soldier." Second song: "Comrade Kim Jong Un, he is leading Korea forward. And the entire nation marches in step with him."

This is Donetsk now. My city. The city that no longer exists. Before 2014 - one of the wealthiest, fastest-growing, best cities of Ukraine. Now people across the city and region don't have access to running water, because the water supply route was destroyed in the war. Russian invaders now use the massive metal pipes that used to provide water as their hiding spots. The water supply route would take years to rebuild even if the war ended today - and it doesn't.

The local "authorities" promise to people that water will return once more Ukrainian land is occupied ("liberated" as they call it). They don't mention that russia invests nothing serious into the region, and whatever crumbs they do throw in are stolen before they hit the ground. They call it a "water blockade" by Ukraine, when in reality it's russia waging the war, destroying infrastructure, and making repairs impossible under constant shelling. Russia arrives, smashes everything to pieces, steals whatever is left, and points the finger at Ukraine. Imagine - about a million people living without running water. Standing in endless lines for bottled technical water, brawling over it, scooping it from puddles (yes, literally). Unthinkable in the same city that once hosted Euro 2012.

But this post-apocalypse is fine, as long as they can threaten and drag hundreds of students into marching with colorful cardboards to glorify fucking North Korea. I couldn't write such an antiutopia if I tried.

Then the russian-installed "authorities" and russian "charities" praise themselves for importing technical water and installing tanks. Celebratory photo shoots and everything. "Look, we took from you this thing you had your whole life and took for granted - but we give you something much, much worse instead! Be grateful!"

All the reservoirs in the region have dried up because all the water has been pumped out of them.

Russian world brings only destruction, poverty and death.