Standing Firm in the Face of War: The Unyielding Residents of Dobropillia

In the war-torn outskirts of Dobropillia, a small town in eastern Ukraine, the sound of artillery echoes through the air. The town, like many others in the Donetsk region, has been heavily damaged by years of Russian attacks. Despite the danger, some residents, like 97-year-old Kateryna Lomova, refuse to leave their homes.

Lomova, wrapped in layers of clothes and a bright green headscarf, stood firm in her doorway as police rescuers and family members urged her to evacuate.

"No, no - I won't go right now," "Maybe another time, but not now."

Her relative in Spain tried to reassure her over a video call, but Lomova remained resolute.

The White Angel Rescue Team

The White Angel rescue team, equipped with shotguns and drone monitoring devices, has been driving around the area, searching for potential evacuees. The main road is lined with burnt-out cars and destroyed homes, a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict.

Some residents are eager to leave, but others, like Lomova, refuse to budge, often due to their age, health, or lack of means to live elsewhere.

A War Without End

Nearly four years into the full-scale invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin demands that Ukraine surrender the entire Donbas region as a condition for ending the war. Kyiv, however, refuses to comply.

Olena Kotova, a 56-year-old resident who left the nearby settlement of Kryvorizhzhia, described the systematic destruction of her village.

"They're wiping the village from the face of the earth, street by street."

The Perils of Returning

The White Angel crew has seen residents return to their damaged homes, even after evacuating to safer areas. This includes families with children who have later been injured or killed.

Gennadii Yudin, a member of the crew, expressed concern about the parents' lack of understanding of the dangers they put themselves and their children in.

An Unwavering Resolve

Despite her windows being blown out, Lomova remains unwilling to leave her home. When asked when she might be ready, she responded,

"Who knows when? I don't want to leave my home."