The city of Siversk in the Donetsk region of Ukraine is only eight kilometers away from the front.
Before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, more than 12.000 people lived in Siversk. Now there are only about 800 in the city.
Most are elderly who are not ready to start a new life away from their homes, regardless of the difficult situation. Among them is Tatjana Guljajeva.
She told Voice of America that only she and her family live on her street.
From the spring of 2022, there is no electricity or drinking water in Siversk. Residents use solar lamps at night that were given to them by volunteers. In Siversk, the sewage system does not work either.
After their apartment was destroyed in a Russian rocket attack, the Guljaev couple moved with their dog to a cottage in the suburbs of Siversk. However, there is also a danger from Russian missiles. Guljajeva recalls how her neighbor's house was hit a few days ago.
"We were at home, and I immediately moved away from the window - glass was flying through the whole room. When I looked later, there was a five-meter hole in our neighbor's yard. It was scary. Our roof was destroyed. This is the third time to fix it".
Those who do not have a well depend on others to bring them water. Volunteers do this regularly, despite constant shelling.
Oleksandar, who did not want to give his last name, has been living in the basement of his apartment building for more than a year. He says his son was killed.
When the shells are not falling, Oleksandar goes to his apartment to prepare food.
"Here is a small gas stove on which I cook. We give money to volunteers to fill our stoves with gas in Kramatorsk".
All shops in Siversk are closed. Once a month, the local government brings food to the city. Volunteers also often come to ensure that residents have provisions.
Ala, a resident of Siverska who also did not want to say her last name, had just taken two boxes of biscuits. She says she would also like medication for her high blood pressure, but she takes what she can. Medical help is available only when volunteers come to Siversk, says Ala.
"The hospital is half an hour's walk from here. It's usually closed, but they open it when volunteer doctors come," Ala told Voice of America.
Despite the dangerous and difficult situation, almost everyone here says they have no intention of leaving their homes. Even the Ukrainian government does not force them to do so.
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