Evacuation Efforts in War-Torn Kostiantynivka

The team held lists of individuals who had indicated their readiness to leave Kostiantynivka, a place severely damaged by Russian attacks. The city was left without power, gas, heating, running water, and had limited food supplies or safe shelter.

Rescuers called out to residents from the streets, urging those who remained, mostly elderly and weak, to evacuate. They emphasized the necessity of gathering essential items and moving to safety. Among those evacuated was a disabled woman who, along with her wheelchair, was carried to a waiting vehicle.

Evgeny Tkachev, associated with the U.N.-backed humanitarian organization, Proliska, likened entering Kostiantynivka to playing Russian roulette. The streets were filled with debris, marred by craters, and drones frequently patrolled overhead.

Before the conflict, Kostiantynivka was home to approximately 67,000 people. By January, the population had dwindled to around 2,000. The city had become a focal point of the Russian assault, a strategically important location that Ukraine adamantly aimed to protect.