After visit to Avdiyivka, UGCC bishop tells about the daunting daily life of frontline residents

Recently, Bishop Stepan Meniok, Donetsk Exarch of the UGCC, with the blessing of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, head of the UGCC, visited Avdiyivka with a team of CF Caritas, where previously the households suffered severe damages from shelling in the old part of the city. 

Accompanied by CIMIC servicemen, they carried out the initial assessment of the needs to restore damaged households, food provision and health care.

The Bishop visited Mariyinka where he talked to the pupils of the local Children and Youth Creativity Center.

Here are some thoughts and impressions that Bishop Stepan shared after this visit.

“I had an impression, when roaming amidst these empty destroyed buildings, that it is a biological war. When people are poisoned and die, and only accommodation and things remain. Walking along an empty street, I met the poor and homeless animals. A cat came up to me, who was looking for his owners. I was returning with a lousy mood and burden on my heart.

In Maryiynka I visited the local creativity center for young people and children. The even arranged a small performance for me there.

Speaking about the victims, I have heard many complaints. People came to me to complain about the military who accommodated in their homes and the authorities ... And there is the front-line line, our military are forced to live in the houses of locals.

CF "Caritas" continues its active operation within the city, the city authorities are supporting them.

People live under the constant psychological stress. Imagine they go to bed every night with the idea that the shell may hit their home.

One woman, seeing that I belong to holy orders, said to me: “I would like to die quietly and that is all.” And I told her that, “Well, okay. What the young people should do?”

Anyone, if told to live under shelling, would have felt a change in his body; he would hate such a life. Just imagine, people constantly live under such pressure. Therefore, it is likely that over time they will have a shift in their mind.

Everywhere the military government operates because of mistrust to civilians. "

It was reported by the press service of the Donetsk Exarchate of the UGCC.