Russian attack troops frustrated, hungry residents of the Ukrainian border town

By Vitalii Hnidyi

NEAR VOVCHANSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – Residents of a Ukrainian border town, frustrated and angry over an armored ground attack by Russian troops seeking to secure a new base, were evacuated from their homes on Friday with an uncertain future.

During lulls in fighting, officials gathered dozens of residents of Vovchansk and surrounding villages and took them to an undisclosed location where they waited for buses to take them to safe locations.

“We are leaving because we are dying from the ‘Russian world,'” said Valerii Dubskyi, 60, referring to a Russian concept of extending Moscow’s influence beyond its borders.

“It can go to hell, along with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his authorities. They are our enemies. They tested all kinds of weapons on us except the atomic bomb.”

Dubskyi said he hadn’t eaten for 24 hours. Even fetching well water was impossible under the never-ending hail of shells.

“During the bombing you either rush into the basement or out of the basement,” he said. “Round trip.”

Groups of evacuees sat on benches holding handfuls of possessions, tightly packed bags on the floor beside them.

Volunteers compiled lists of evacuees. Meals were served in plastic boxes.

Halyna Ukrainyk, clutching a cat as she waited for her bus, said the shelling began around 3 a.m. the previous day. She and others were locked in a basement.

“A street is completely destroyed. Shelling,” she said. “It’s terrible what’s going on there. It’s impossible to stay there.”

Antonina Kornuta from the nearby village of Buhaivka said most people’s thoughts were with the younger evacuees.

“It’s very scary,” she said. “I have grandchildren, children. It’s about her life. I do not want to go.”

The evacuees walked quietly into the waiting vehicles, accompanied by at least one dog.

Oleksii Kharkivsky, Vovchansk’s top patrol officer, said Russian forces appeared intent on destroying the city.

“Within 24 hours there were probably several hundred hits from artillery, mines and dozens of cluster bombs,” he said.

“They are destroying the city, they are trying to invade the area. But there are no enemy troops in the city.”

For Dubskyi, the exit, no matter how orderly it was, still had something unreal about it.

“I want to pinch myself because I think it’s not real, just a nightmare. But it’s real, all right,” he said. “I thought old age was a quiet time. But look at it. And there are many more millions like me, thanks to Putin.”

(This story has been re-archived to correct the byline)

(Writing by Margaryta Chornokondratenko and Ron Popeski; Editing by Leslie Adler)