In September 2022, the Defense Forces of Ukraine liberated Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast, which had been under occupation since February 27. Now Kupyansk is a front-line city suffering from enemy artillery fire.
The online.ua film crew visited the city and got to know Oleg, a native of Kupyansk.
When Russian troops entered the city, the man remained and continued to resist the Russian invaders. He shared his story with online.ua correspondent Ivan Hrynevych.
How Kupyansk lives today
Front zone. I'm already used to it. If 1/5 of the population remains in the city, it is good. Although, the children were taken away. Although I asked - the schools have recruited classes, and there will be 22 students each.
What is the situation in the city with products and humanitarian aid?
With that, everything is fixed. Even “humanitarians” [the persons who carry the aid - Ed.] came from Greece and France, looking for premises for reconstruction: windows, doors, and so on. They asked: “And where is your safest district?” I say: “We don't have that. Everything is dangerous here.”
What happened in the city during the occupation
Until May, only the Russian military ruled here. All civilians did not care for them. And from the beginning of May, the civilian FSB began to work here.
Those who took a pro-Ukrainian position ended very badly. At best, it's a arrest and putting '“on basement” [idiom means placing not in prisons, but in the basements of buildings - ed]. At the beginning of the occupation, activists were intimidated. They left themselves while there was still an opportunity, and all our ATO soldiers [Antiterrorist Operation in Donbas] passed through the basement.
Textbooks on the history of Ukraine were taken away from schools. They may not have reached the library. When they had already bombed, I went in, and found the flag of Kupyansk - it was lying on a shelf. He is now flying high on the former administration.
Did the Russians come to check the apartments?
Went in. Those who took a pro-Ukrainian position ended very badly. A kidney was knocked out or something. And especially when SOBR [Russian abbreviation for Special Rapid Response Unit, which is Spetsnaz of National Guard of Russia - Ed.] came. I also personally had a SOBR, checked. But I had nothing, I washed everything.
They criticized me for having a Facebook group called "Kharkiv is Ukraine". I say: "My dear, Kharkiv was the first capital of Ukraine, even in the Soviet Union. And what do you want me to say that there is no such word as "Ukraine"?"
Photo - online.ua
About collaborators in the city
What can you tell us about collaborators? Are there a lot of them?
A lot. Especially, the power structure called the “police” went over to the side of the occupiers. I don't know what the percentage is, but over 70% is accurate. And the most interesting thing is that those policemen who were still working in the police, who had already been retired for 10 and 14 years, have transferred. Went to work for their police. The police here were not Russian, but from “LPR” [an abbreviation for the pro-Russian terroristic organization “Lugansk People’s Republic” - Ed.].
Matsegora was elected - the mayor, who gave (the city to occupants - ed.) and said: "Go ahead. To avoid bloodshed. Go to Izyum [a city in Kharkiv region which was occupied till October 2022 - Ed]. Go, destroy Izyum, and don't touch my citizens." And ran away.
Note: Hennadiy Matsegora is the mayor of Kupyansk, who has been charged under Art. 110 (encroachment on territorial integrity) and Art. 111 (treason) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
So he also stole from them two KAMAZ vehicles belonging to a Russian humanitarian aid worker who came. And “KAMAZ” of humanitarian aid costs 40 thousand dollars.
Are there still people among the locals who are waiting for the “Russian world”?
Yes, they are. My friend, who worked all the time at “Mashzavod” [Machine constructive plant - Ed], which is now completely destroyed, walked here with his wife on May 9 with Russian flags.
They also laughed at me, because when I approach acquaintances, I always greet them: "Glory to Ukraine." And they say: "You spazzed us with your "Glory to Ukraine." "Spazzed", you see? And then, as soon as our people liberated the city, he immediately started looting. Now he is already walking like a restless one.
About the flag of Ukraine above the administration
On February 24, the war began [a full-scale invasion - ed.], and on February 27, the Russians entered the city. At 11:45 a.m., they took down the flag of Ukraine at the administration, but did not tear it down completely. It was just hanging down.
We raised the blue and yellow flag back. It hung until March 27. They did not film; they only filmed on March 27. And already on May 27, they officially closed the square.
What happened there was incomprehensible to me, because no one was allowed. There were armed people everywhere - “green men” [a nickname for Russian invaders. It was used for the first time to name unrecognized Russian-speaking militaries during the occupation of Crimea in 2014 - Ed].
And then I come when their incomprehensible action is over, and the Russian flag is already hanging. May 27. On September 9, these flags were removed.
The second part of the interview will be available soon on online.ua
