Odessa, the « Pearl of the Black Sea, » beloved by both Russians and Ukrainians, was not long ago the largest seaside resort in the region. Today, the mythical city of the Duke of Richelieu is but a shadow of its former self. As three-quarters of the population have left Odessa, the idleness of summer has been replaced by the terrifying sound of anti-bombardment sirens. (For Libération)
Olga is a farmer from the Mykolaiv region. Since February 24th, she has been living and working amidst the Russian bombardments. Between March and April, her wheat plantation turned into a literal no man’s land, with the Russians attacking from the south after taking control of the Kherson region, and the Ukrainian army from the north.
Shrapnel, cluster bomb impacts, and damaged agricultural vehicles are just a few of the visible remnants of these terrible clashes.
Before the war, Mykolaiv was one of the most populous cities in southern Ukraine. Today, it has become a frontline outpost and is almost daily targeted by Russian bombings. Constantly living in insecurity, without access to clean water and ofter without electricity, the residents who haven’t left the city try their best to continue living.
MAURIZIO ORLANDO 