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THE war-ravaged residents of Ukraine’s second largest city yesterday vowed not to be broken by Russia’s aerial blitz, insisting: “We will stay here, no matter what.”
Locals declared they will not be ground down by the daily bombardment of missiles and drones — a spirit epitomised by a sign in the outskirts reading: “Kharkiv Unbreakable.”
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Peter Jordan
Peter JordanThe 1.4million residents refuse to give in to terror despite the approach of Russian troops threatening to mount a full-scale assault on the country’s cultural capital.
Scores have been killed and dozens wounded by the near non-stop airstrikes that have destroyed vast swathes of the city in the embattled north-east of Ukraine.
It has been in the eye of the storm for much of the time since Vladimir Putin’s troops first entered Ukraine in February 2022.
Buildings shattered by Russia’s occupation at the start of the war, including the City Hall, remain boarded up — stark reminders of what happened then — and could again if the enemy is successful.
Yet its trendy cafes are busy and Shevchenko City Garden is still full of people strolling amid the constant shrill of the air-raid sirens.
They yesterday walked down paths among trees as “Flashdance . . . what a Feeling” played over a tannoy.
A young child sat on a bench as his caricature was drawn. Another in an AC-DC T-shirt laughed with a pal. Nearby, a lad drove a toy car.
Beautician Kseniya, 39, said: “We’ve tried to lead as normal a life as possible since the start of the war. People are only afraid of the things they’ve not experienced.
“This is the third year of the war. We are used to this now. It’s still a nightmare and those who are not OK with it have already left. We will stay here no matter what.”
Her friend Kayeryna, 39, added: “We’ve been here in Kharkiv the whole time. People are out and about. They’re refusing to give in to the terror and we won’t be stopped.
“The sign saying Kharkiv Unbreakable isn’t just a slogan. It has true meaning behind it because of what we’ve experienced together.
“We’re aware of the scary things that can happen but we still walk in the park because it is ours to enjoy.
“We will never fall.”
Albina, 28, said: “It’s hard not to think of the possibility that you might be hit by a missile. It’s like playing Russian Roulette every time you go out. We go out and understand the risks that exist.
“We don’t want to die but it’s impossible to sit all day and all the time inside the house.”
Her boyfriend Anatolii added: “The people of Kharkiv are strong. We love it here and we’re staying in the city until the end.”
Outside the National Opera House, Artem, 41, skateboarded with his pals, Danya and Nikita, both 21.
He said: “I am scared but not so scared that I can’t carry on with life. The scariest thing that can happen is losing my parents and my friends.”
The Sun has witnessed first-hand the recent horrors being inflicted on Kharkiv, including a rocket attack on a printing press which killed seven and another on a DIY megastore in which 19 people died.
We were also at the scene of a missile strike on an apartment block which claimed another nine lives.
And still the ballistic missiles, glider bombs and Iranian-made kamikaze drones rain in.
Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, praised the city’s indomitable spirit and said it would not be crushed.
Young children are being evacuated but the rest are staying put amid hopes Ukraine will soon strike military targets deep within Russia.
It comes after the US performed a U-turn on the use of its weapons to wipe out the launch sites beyond enemy lines that are responsible for so much carnage in Kharkiv.
Meanwhile Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused China and Russia of trying to undermine his upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland.
Peter Jordan
English (US)