‘We prepare for worst’, says governor of Ukraine frontline region

The governor of the japanese Ukrainian area now seeing heavy preventing with Russia, Sergiy Gaiday, opened the pockets of his flack jacket Saturday to point out gun cartridges and a tourniquet.

Appointed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the 46-year-old heads the Lugansk area, together with town of Severodonetsk, the place Russians are preventing avenue battles, and Lysychansk, the place bangs of artillery are near-constant.

“It is a robust state of affairs, within the metropolis (of Lysychansk) and within the area as an entire,” he instructed AFP in an interview, as Russians “are simply shelling our troop positions 24 hours a day.”

In Lysychansk, there are indicators of preparations for avenue preventing: troopers digging in, placing up barbed wire and police inserting burnt-out autos sideways throughout roads to gradual visitors.

“There’s an expression: put together for the worst and one of the best will come by itself, Gaiday stated. “in fact we have to put together.”

Gaiday has warned of the hazard that Russian troops will encircle Lysychansk by chopping off provide roads.

“Theoretically it is potential. It is a warfare, something can occur, he stated.

“It might end up that they reduce off the area and we actually do find yourself encircled. Possibly there can be preventing even in Lysychansk — that is warfare.”

From Lysychansk, Ukrainian artillery is firing at Severodonetsk, the place smoke rises from the Azot manufacturing facility and Russian troops hearth again shells and rockets.

“Look how lengthy Severodonetsk has held out: you possibly can see they (the Russians) do not management the city totally… they can not go additional in they usually cannot put their massive weapons or tanks there,” the governor stated.

He known as for for provides of “long-range weaponry to reach as quickly as potential”.

“The truth that the West helps us is nice, however it’s (too) late.”

– ‘No secure locations’ – The governor might nonetheless theoretically go to his residence city of Severodonetsk accompanied by navy, he stated, “however it’s very extremely dangerous”.

In actual fact “there are not any secure locations in Lugansk area,” he stated, as explosions rang out within the background.

His flak jacket was filled with cartridge circumstances and he stated he has a semi-automatic rifle in his automobile “and if I have to, I’ll battle”.

Gaiday was born in Severodonetsk and appointed by Zelensky after his election in 2019.

Of his present position as a wartime administrator, Gaiday stated: “It is onerous, however I do not let my feelings out.”

“It is painful for me to see how my residence metropolis is being destroyed,” he stated, as effectively seeing these he knew die.

“It is all painful, I am a human being however I bury this deep inside me,” he stated, including that his process is to “assist individuals as a lot as potential”.

– Social media – Situations are grim for civilians left in Lysychansk, who don’t have any cell phone connection, operating water or energy. They prepare dinner on campfires and shelter in cellars.

“About 10 p.c” have stayed within the metropolis, Gaiday stated.

“We attempt to discuss to individuals and persuade them to go away. Some point-blank refuse.”

There’s a “small proportion” who’re ready for Moscow to construct a “Russian world” within the area, he stated.

Gaiday has a outstanding presence on social media together with Telegram and Fb, giving common updates on the warfare.

“You might want to discuss,” he stated, saying this might counteract the highly effective affect of Russia’s state propaganda machine.

He stated he additionally needed individuals within the battle zone to “perceive that I have not deserted them, that I am on the spot and with them.”

Referring to a possible warfare crimes tribunal, he additionally recommended his posts “might even be a small aspect after we strive (Russian President Vladimir) Putin on the Hague”.