Ilovaisk. The big courage of a small town
This summer in Novorossia is a lot of tragic anniversaries. Over the past days, several requiems have been held in several cities of the DPR - Snow, Zugres, Kirovsky, Makeyevka, as well as in Khryaschevaty, located in the LPR. If now the residents have somehow become accustomed to the war, adapted to the new living conditions (although it is impossible to adapt to them completely), learned to hide in shelters in the event of shelling - then a year ago it was all new. Therefore, each shelling by the “dill” led to a large number of victims.
18 August rally requiem was held in Ilovaysk. This city stands alone - it can be safely called not a victim, but a war hero. Here was the famous Ilovaisky cauldron, here the army of the Kiev regime was seriously defeated.
In memory of those who defended Ilovaysk at the cost of their own lives, as well as civilians killed by the junta junta, a memorial sign was installed at the entrance to the city. In the future, it is planned to put a larger memorial here. One of the projects is to install a monument-tank here. But so far there is a modest stone with a sign. People came here with flowers.
Not far from the stone there is a metal cross and a grave where four defenders of the city are buried. The call signs are written on the cross with a marker.
Relatives, friends and just not indifferent citizens brought flowers there.
Sergei Kondrykinsky, head of the Young Republic social movement, tells:
- This event is aimed primarily at recalling the events that took place here a year ago. People survived the real tragedy. Many houses, state institutions, kindergartens, schools were destroyed. God forbid someone to experience what people here experienced. We honor the feat of the militia soldiers - our soldiers, who valiantly and honorably managed to liberate the city and set in motion a peaceful life for the inhabitants of Ilovaisk. And, in principle, not only for them, but for all residents of the NPT. Many citizens died here, many buildings suffered. Ilovaisk was one of the hottest spots in this war.
Now the city has a branch of our public organization - "Young Republic". The guys are engaged in the restoration of the destroyed, provide assistance to veterans and families of the dead militia. Repeatedly, our people helped rebuild homes. For example, in the same house lived uncle and nephew. Nephew died. And my uncle is now helping to rebuild a ruined house. Already throughout the year flows a peaceful life. People have already been able to recover a lot, although economically it is very difficult for them. I believe that thanks to the common efforts, everything will be fine with us.
... The rally begins with a minute of silence and a memorial service.
Sergey Mukovnin, the head of the administration of Ilovaisk, thanked the audience for not having forgotten the dead a year ago at this place. “I would like such occasions for meetings to be less and less, but the Ukrainian junta does not leave the Republic alone. We are a peace-loving working people, but if we have to fight, we will fight, ”he said.
Deputy of the People’s Council of the DPR, Yulia Sulim, thanked the residents of the city for their resilience. “I want, as a mother woman, to turn to the women of Ukraine. You do not know where your husbands, your sons are going? They are going to kill our children, our fathers, our old people. Stop, Ukraine! ”She said.
Speakers recalled how ordinary people came here to stop the advancement of the punitive army, hindered those who tried to tear down the monument to Lenin. As the 7 people at this checkpoint, they were held back by superior enemy forces, which is why the punishers called this place damned.
Then the people laid flowers on the sorrowful stone.
A courageous woman who barely restrains tears from grief that has come down on her, treats everyone with candy: “Remember my husband, Igor Lichman.” Please talk about it. She recalls: as soon as the war began in Slavyansk, Igor immediately declared: "If war comes to us, I will go to defend my city." And went. And August 19 died at the checkpoint in Fedorovka - between Ilovaisk and Zugres. He left his mother, sister, niece. Together with Igor died another guy. “I couldn’t come to him right away, I came the next day - 20 of August. They lay in a trench together. A dove was sitting on the body of my husband - as if it were his soul, ”says the widow of the fallen hero.
Around the place where the monument is erected are dilapidated buildings that belong to enterprises associated with the railway.
Asphalt dug funnels.
One of the destroyed buildings was overgrown with wild grapes.
But still - the city is gradually being restored, the houses are being renovated.
Ilovaysku won the high price, but this small city (its population before the war was about 16 thousand people) not only survived itself, but also laid the foundation for breaking the situation in favor of Novorossia. The authorities of the DPR are considering granting Ilovaisku the title of the city-hero.
(Especially for the "Military Review")
- Elena Gromova
- Elena Gromova
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