Letters from a siege
Kramatorsk is a « frontline city, » meaning it is close to the front lines and endures daily Russian shelling. In this context, I spent nearly four weeks interviewing the city’s residents—civilians, volunteers, and military personnel—who agreed to share their stories.
Kramatorsk, an encircled city
All project participants agree: the situation in Kramatorsk is deteriorating. During the investigation period, the railway station was permanently closed, as train travel became too dangerous.
On maps, a large pocket forms around the city, and the communication route from Izium, in the northwest, fell within reach of FPV drones. In this operational zone, Kramatorsk plays a central role as a garrison city—a logistical hub for the military and volunteers.
Civil life, a resilient facade
Despite the danger, civilian life continues. Restaurants serve customers, hair and nail salons remain open, and shops operate as usual. Sitting with a coffee, one could almost forget the war.
However, behind this facade of normality, the front line is ever-present. At 8 p.m., all businesses close. Curfew is at 9 p.m., and public lighting is turned off. In apartment blocks, between half and two-thirds of the windows are dark—the city is partially empty.
On the ground, a difficult reality
In the streets, the presence of soldiers in uniform and of armoured vehicles is omnipresent. In the background, the rumble of shelling is incessant—far enough away to be forgotten, yet just loud enough to be heard.
On the city’s Telegram radar channels, administrators warn daily of threats facing the city: ballistic missiles, Russian aviation activity, Shahed drones, or FPV drones. Due to Russian shelling of energy facilities, the city is regularly plunged into darkness. The streets then fill with the hum of private generators.
Outside the city, soldiers fight brutal Russian troops. A volunteer explained that it is common for Kremlin soldiers to place the heads of Ukrainian soldiers on spikes.
The testimonies of a siege
Conducted entirely in Kramatorsk, this project aims to show the war through the eyes of its inhabitants. Whether civilians, volunteers, or soldiers, they recount their daily lives and commitments. Each article, each « letter, » transcribes a voice, a perspective on this city caught in war, in the hope of sharing their realities.
Latest letter
Art and war
Ukraine is facing Clausewitz’s “total war.” For Ukrainians, Russia seeks to erase their country’s identity. As a result, Ukrainians are mobilising all their resources to fight, including art.
Letters from a siege
Soldiers’ life
Drawing closer to the front means drawing closer to those who fight—and those who fall. Commemorations allow families and soldiers to remember their loved ones. Attending a military requiem is a way to bear witness to their loss, their grief, and their longing for justice.
Letters to come
Operating Under the Bombs
Testimony from Military Surgeons 20 km from the Front
Medecin at war
Near the front lines, Russia does not hesitate to target and destroy hospital infrastructure. Despite the heavy influx of wounded, military surgeons adapt and persist; here is their testimony.
Taken by War
How Civilian Medicine Adapts to the Realities of the Front
Medecin at war
Sofiia* is a civilian anesthesiologist. Initially, nothing destined her to treat war casualties. Since 2022, she has had to adapt her practice to the realities of a front that draws ever closer.
Plunged into Darkness
Forty-eight Hours of Blackout in Kramatorsk
Civilians in war
As winter approaches, Russian forces strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. In Kramatorsk, despite the population’s resilience, these attacks remain a source of pain that residents endure with restraint.
Battles at the Fingertips
A Visit to a Camouflage Net-Making Hub
Volunteers in Ukraine
For some, war has overtaken every aspect of daily life; it has become a reason to exist. Regardless of age, even elderly people contribute to the war effort. In Kramatorsk, some dedicate their time to making camouflage nets for soldiers.
Evacuating Under the Drones
What Field Experience Reveals About Kramatorsk’s Trajectory
Volunteers in Ukraine
Varvara is originally from Kramatorsk. As a volunteer in a civilian evacuation organization, her experience allows her to foresee what awaits her hometown.
Forced Departures
Encounters at the Departure of an Evacuation Bus
Civilians in war
In the evening, half the windows in Kramatorsk are dark. The front line is approaching, and the population has already begun to leave the city. Every morning, volunteers organize buses to help residents evacuate.
At man’s height, between the lines — Little Frenchy