“The Russians Arrive And Shoot Anything They Meet, Including Civilians”

When the red lines are blurred in a war, civilians disappear. Humanitarian corridors are as necessary when a conflict flares up as they are complicated to open and respect due to the lack of trust between enemies. In Mariúpol, in the south of the country, the attempt failed this Sunday for the second consecutive day because the weapons did not shut up, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and in Irpin, at the gates of Kiev, there was no official statement. about opening corridors, but the civilians only had one exit door left on foot to the capital and there they were attacked.

Russian mortars fell mercilessly on the bridge that was the only escape route for families fleeing the fighting in Irpin. On Saturday there was a mass exodus of citizens from this town of 60,000 inhabitants located 20 kilometers from Kiev. Those who left on foot had to wait under the rubble of the Romanov bridge, blown up by the Ukrainian Army itself to complicate the Russian advance, and cross the makeshift wooden walkway over the river almost one by one. They were lucky within the enormous misfortune of leaving your house without knowing if you will be able to return one day.

Twenty-four hours later, with the Russian troops already in the streets of Irpin, those who were yet to leave had it worse. Entire families, with children in their arms, elderly people holding hands and carrying suitcases, reached the river and suffered direct attack from Russian mortars in the evacuation corridor. Four people from the same family lost their lives and their bodies were left lying on the floor, covered with white sheets. Beside his little luggage. Police said there were numerous fatalities – at least three of them children – and that most were hit by bombs as they desperately ran for a bus or shelter.

The war in Ukraine reached unusual heights of dehumanization this Sunday. When there are no red lines, corridors are useless. Despite the latest technologies and the constant drone of drones, equipped with cameras, civilians were considered military targets. Impossible to put yourself in the head of the person who gave the order, but in these situations the armies seek to terrorize the population so that they leave their homes as soon as possible and thus be able to launch large-scale operations. A ruthless strategy with an eye on neighboring Kiev.

camouflaged enemies

With the road to Irpin across the bridge blocked by incessant Russian fire, the only way for civilians to reach Kiev is to head west via Stoyanka, a longer route that requires a vehicle. Approaching the front lines means going in the reverse direction of an endless queue of cars moving very slowly due to checkpoints at checkpoints.

Militiamen and soldiers control each vehicle that goes to the capital for fear of the entry of enemies disguised as civilians. They are checkpoints protected with light weapons, basic positions, which do not appear too solid as the first lines of defense of Kiev. Quite the contrary. The feeling is of total withdrawal, of retreat to the other side of the river and the plans could include blowing up more bridges to make it difficult for a much superior enemy to pass through.

In the exit jam, no one loses patience despite the explosions in the background. The cars leave behind the columns of smoke from the fires caused by the bombing in Irpin. “I’m going to the western part of the country, I don’t know where, but as far as possible from here,” Constantín replies when asked about his plans. He takes his elderly mother in the passenger seat. “We have heard many bombs and explosions. There are wounded and my mother, Reggina, is 85 years old. I’m going to see if some friends can give us shelter, “says in perfect Spanish this tourist agent whose life has taken a radical turn in just a few days, like all Ukrainians.

life is far away

Many of these civilians waiting their turn to move forward have been held incommunicado by Russian troops confiscating phones at their checkpoints. The pretext is that they can be used to send your positions to the enemy. There is a moment when the line of vehicles ends and the road is empty. Abandoned villages are crossed, with closed houses and shops. The closer Irpin is, the further away life is.

The last Ukrainian checkpoint is made up of a series of raised concrete blocks next to an old cafeteria. There is Anatoli, 57 years old, accompanied by other volunteers who scan the end of the straight with fear in their bodies. “The Russians are 3.5 kilometers away, they destroyed our post and that is why we had to fall back to this position, but they can advance at any time. They arrive and start shooting everything in sight, including civilian cars. The situation is complicated, “says this militiaman, who has involuntarily become the first line of defense in Kiev. When asked if it is possible to go beyond this control, Anatoli says that one more kilometer, to Stoyanka, but outside of his responsibility. There is no security whatsoever for anyone who advances from this position.

A kilometer further, in that kind of no man’s land between Russians and Ukrainians, Kirio distributes food among the elderly who have been left unable to leave their homes. Stoyanka is a town known for the lake, which was a place of pilgrimage for the inhabitants of Kiev during the weekends. It’s Sunday, but the solitude impresses. The only one who walks down the street is Kirio, who on his bicycle carries two large plastic bags with canned food. “We survived, it’s not an easy situation, but we do it,” he says without losing his smile.

The image of this bucolic town has been transformed into a sinister and oppressive landscape. The Russians have bombed a warehouse. A mushroom of thick black smoke rises as if it wanted to send the coordinates of the invading Army’s advance into space. A drone notices the presence of the newcomers to Stoyanka and begins to follow their footsteps. Intimidate. It is time for these journalists trying to see what lies beyond to leave no man’s land and head towards Kiev in search of refuge. It is the same path that thousands and thousands of civilians from Irpin desperately travel.