Tragedy and Desperation: Ukrainians Struggle for Survival in Flood-Ravaged Hola Prystan, Occupied by Russians

• Chiem Balduk

  foreign editor

“The water was up to the first floor. That’s why they were on the roof for four days. Now that the water has subsided, everything appears to have been washed away,” says Belgian-Ukrainian Nataliya Wintraecken emotionally. Her uncle and aunt live in the heavily affected village of Hola Prystan, which is occupied by the Russians. “They have nowhere to go, and they’re running out of food.”

In recent days, NOS spoke with aid workers and relatives of Ukrainians on the east bank of the Dnieper. More than a week after the collapse of the Kachovka dam, residents of the occupied part of the disaster area are still waiting for help. The river forms the frontline, leaving them to fend for themselves. Russia does not allow international aid.

Several villages on the east bank are still under water. Ukrainian authorities expect the Dnieper to return to its previous shape in about two weeks. The number of victims can only be guessed at. Ukraine reports at least 10 dead and 40 missing, Russia at least 18 dead.

The floods mainly affect the villages on the east bank, which is occupied by Russia:

Nataliya is in constant contact with her Ukrainian family. The uncle and aunt in Hola Prystan communicate with the rest of the family through a single contact, so that the phone battery lasts as long as possible.

In addition to power shortage, a lack of food is a major problem. “They lived off their vegetable garden and chickens, but everything has been washed away. They share what they have with the neighborhood, but the end is in sight.”

In the first days after the dam burst, food parcels were sent from neighboring places, said Tetjana Hasaneko, director of Olesjki, which was also badly hit, this week. “Due to fuel shortages, this was done with rowing boats and floating air mattresses.”

That is now no longer possible. “Because the water recedes, the area around the village has turned into a swamp,” says Nataliya. “It’s like a deserted island,” sketches Dmytro from Kherson, whose parents live in the disaster area. “There’s nowhere to go. There’s nothing to do but wait.”

A Ukrainian minister shared images of an aid campaign by drone. Food parcels were flown from the West Bank to a Russian-occupied village:

Russia says it has evacuated more than 7,500 people. As we have come to expect from the Russian state media, the relief efforts are proceeding without any problems. The contacts of the NOS paint a completely different picture. “Russia only evacuates people with a Russian passport,” says Dmytro.

Leaving on your own is also very dangerous, he continues. “Due to the circumstances it is a 45-minute boat ride to the other side, and the occupiers will shoot at you.” According to Ukraine, 133 people were able to escape this way, by boat or swimming. They arrive in shock, says aid worker Ines Salahno. “They’ve endured constant shelling. They can barely talk.”

Recent satellite images clearly show the flooding in Hola Prystan:

Nataliya’s relatives saw the shelling from their rooftops. “They saw auxiliary boats approaching, but then there was shooting from the Russian side,” says Nataliya. “Not on the boats, but on the water, as a deterrent. Why would you do that? It’s inhumane.”

Nevertheless, volunteers continue to make efforts to provide assistance. A network of aid workers is active in the occupied south, trying to get food, medication and fuel to the disaster area. Katja (full name known to the editors) is cooperating from Russia. “We bring boats to the area through local residents. We have already received about 20 boats in Oleshki.” The help is desperately needed, but must be organized as an underground resistance.

Local Telegram groups inform residents about options to leave. Since the dam burst, the groups, comparable to Dutch ‘neighborhood apps’ on WhatsApp, have been full of pleas for evacuation. “I heard an evacuation is taking place at the bus stop, does anyone know?” someone wrote. Another asks if her two dogs can be picked up.

The groups clearly show that many people have lost loved ones. “We are looking for Aleksej, 83 years old. He was supposed to have been evacuated on June 7, but we can’t find him anywhere.” The message gets no responses. Someone else is lucky.

The question of who saw Volodymyr from Prahodnaya Street will be answered within an hour. “I saw him today, he’s fine.” Only: his phone is empty.