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In Ukrainian City Under Blockade, Citizens Go to Ground, and Below In Ukrainian City Under Blockade, Citizens Go to Ground, and Below
(4 months later)
SLOVYANSK, Ukraine — Tatyana Vsevolodovna stood in the cool basement beneath her kitchen, displaying a household’s preparations for war. SLOVYANSK, Ukraine — Tatyana Vsevolodovna stood in the cool basement beneath her kitchen, displaying a household’s preparations for war.
On one shelf rested a small backpack filled with canned fish. Mattresses formed stacks near two walls. A plastic tub held dried bread, opposite a reserve of cognac and wine. Water waited by the door, which led up to a city under blockade.On one shelf rested a small backpack filled with canned fish. Mattresses formed stacks near two walls. A plastic tub held dried bread, opposite a reserve of cognac and wine. Water waited by the door, which led up to a city under blockade.
“This basement is not made to live in,” said Tatyana, who gave her patronymic but not her surname out of concerns for her safety. “It is just to survive.”“This basement is not made to live in,” said Tatyana, who gave her patronymic but not her surname out of concerns for her safety. “It is just to survive.”
Tatyana is a teacher at a boarding school for the blind. Like many in this previously quiet industrial city, she does not share the political passions of the men who stand at barricades with antitank rockets and guns, pressing a rebellion against Ukraine’s interim government.Tatyana is a teacher at a boarding school for the blind. Like many in this previously quiet industrial city, she does not share the political passions of the men who stand at barricades with antitank rockets and guns, pressing a rebellion against Ukraine’s interim government.
Instead, she is busy outfitting a bomb shelter.Instead, she is busy outfitting a bomb shelter.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia may now be calling for dialogue to end the crisis, but people here remain on edge. Slovyansk is a city strained by the conflicting pulls of disbelief, pride, anger, anticipation and, in Tatyana’s case, dread.President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia may now be calling for dialogue to end the crisis, but people here remain on edge. Slovyansk is a city strained by the conflicting pulls of disbelief, pride, anger, anticipation and, in Tatyana’s case, dread.
A rebel group that introduced itself to the world only a month ago plans to hold a referendum on Sunday that it hopes will lead to secession. And just outside the city, in several directions, Ukrainian troops and armored vehicles wait, positioned for what residents and fighters alike say could be a general assault to drive off the rebels, reclaim the city’s center and block the vote.A rebel group that introduced itself to the world only a month ago plans to hold a referendum on Sunday that it hopes will lead to secession. And just outside the city, in several directions, Ukrainian troops and armored vehicles wait, positioned for what residents and fighters alike say could be a general assault to drive off the rebels, reclaim the city’s center and block the vote.
Fears intensified on Friday when Ukrainian forces stormed an occupied police station in the port city of Mariupol, killing at least seven and signaling, in the process, the government’s willingness to use blunt, lethal force.Fears intensified on Friday when Ukrainian forces stormed an occupied police station in the port city of Mariupol, killing at least seven and signaling, in the process, the government’s willingness to use blunt, lethal force.
Slovyansk, which grew out of a former Cossack fortress, is a factory town about 120 miles from the Russian border with a characteristic Soviet feel. It is a mix of large factories, dilapidated apartment blocks, and wide neighborhoods, like Tatyana’s, of small, single-story homes.Slovyansk, which grew out of a former Cossack fortress, is a factory town about 120 miles from the Russian border with a characteristic Soviet feel. It is a mix of large factories, dilapidated apartment blocks, and wide neighborhoods, like Tatyana’s, of small, single-story homes.
Part of its population clearly supports the rebels, who call themselves the People’s Militia. Some citizens cook for them, give them information and cellphone photographs of the Ukrainian forces’ positions and military equipment outside the city. Crowds, typically of several hundred people, turn out for rebel-organized funerals and parades.Part of its population clearly supports the rebels, who call themselves the People’s Militia. Some citizens cook for them, give them information and cellphone photographs of the Ukrainian forces’ positions and military equipment outside the city. Crowds, typically of several hundred people, turn out for rebel-organized funerals and parades.
But Slovyansk has nearly 116,000 residents, according to the United Nations.But Slovyansk has nearly 116,000 residents, according to the United Nations.
With few people on the streets, the extent of rebel support is hard to measure. A palpable segment of the population wishes that what has happened had not occurred, and that both armed sides would fade away.With few people on the streets, the extent of rebel support is hard to measure. A palpable segment of the population wishes that what has happened had not occurred, and that both armed sides would fade away.
These people mostly remain inside, hoping, they say, for negotiations, restraint or any path that will lead to peace.These people mostly remain inside, hoping, they say, for negotiations, restraint or any path that will lead to peace.
Some, like Tatyana, prepare shelters. Others speak of gloom.Some, like Tatyana, prepare shelters. Others speak of gloom.
“It’s really 50-50 in the city,” said another resident, Denis, who also asked that his surname not be published. “On one side there are weapons, and on the other is common sense, which, unfortunately, will not overcome.”“It’s really 50-50 in the city,” said another resident, Denis, who also asked that his surname not be published. “On one side there are weapons, and on the other is common sense, which, unfortunately, will not overcome.”
With the rebels entrenched, Slovyansk is under official blockade, to use the word selected by the Ukrainian government for the checkpoints its forces hold on many of the city’s approaches.With the rebels entrenched, Slovyansk is under official blockade, to use the word selected by the Ukrainian government for the checkpoints its forces hold on many of the city’s approaches.
Blockade is something considerably less than siege.Blockade is something considerably less than siege.
Factories and schools have been closed since the rebels appeared, leaving much of the population idle, waiting for resolution. Fuel supplies are running short, and the city’s service stations ran out of diesel several days ago.Factories and schools have been closed since the rebels appeared, leaving much of the population idle, waiting for resolution. Fuel supplies are running short, and the city’s service stations ran out of diesel several days ago.
But food remains plentiful, and the city’s large, Soviet-era bread factory, which the rebels’ self-appointed mayor, Vyachislav Ponomaryov, has called a “strategic object,” labors on, sending trucks laden with fresh bread out to shops each morning.But food remains plentiful, and the city’s large, Soviet-era bread factory, which the rebels’ self-appointed mayor, Vyachislav Ponomaryov, has called a “strategic object,” labors on, sending trucks laden with fresh bread out to shops each morning.
Residents are also allowed to come and go, after showing documents and submitting to brief searches at government checkpoints just outside the city.Residents are also allowed to come and go, after showing documents and submitting to brief searches at government checkpoints just outside the city.
Some said they would like to depart with their families but feared the rebels would punish them for abandoning their cause, or that their homes would be looted. Instead, like Tatyana, they gather provisions and wait.Some said they would like to depart with their families but feared the rebels would punish them for abandoning their cause, or that their homes would be looted. Instead, like Tatyana, they gather provisions and wait.
Thus far there have been only intermittent clashes between rebels and Ukrainian military and police forces here.Thus far there have been only intermittent clashes between rebels and Ukrainian military and police forces here.
The rebels, who seem to number between 250 and 350 men with an assortment of small arms, antitank weapons and a few captured armored vehicles, have suffered a relatively small number of casualties, perhaps two dozen wounded and dead since they overpowered the city’s authorities on April 12.The rebels, who seem to number between 250 and 350 men with an assortment of small arms, antitank weapons and a few captured armored vehicles, have suffered a relatively small number of casualties, perhaps two dozen wounded and dead since they overpowered the city’s authorities on April 12.
The interim government in Kiev claims that the rebels also have portable, heat-seeking antiaircraft missiles, known as Manpads. But none have been seen by independent observers, and the government has so far failed to present any clear evidence to back its claim.The interim government in Kiev claims that the rebels also have portable, heat-seeking antiaircraft missiles, known as Manpads. But none have been seen by independent observers, and the government has so far failed to present any clear evidence to back its claim.
Against this force, the Ukrainian military’s use of heavy weapons has been limited to Mi-24 helicopter gunship attacks on rebel checkpoints and firefights that have included the use of heavy machine guns.Against this force, the Ukrainian military’s use of heavy weapons has been limited to Mi-24 helicopter gunship attacks on rebel checkpoints and firefights that have included the use of heavy machine guns.
Ukrainian troops have also fired a handful of high-explosive shells, apparently mortar rounds, at a rebel barricade beside the bridge at the city’s western limit.Ukrainian troops have also fired a handful of high-explosive shells, apparently mortar rounds, at a rebel barricade beside the bridge at the city’s western limit.
But even though a full assault has yet to come, the population shows its fear.But even though a full assault has yet to come, the population shows its fear.
The sudden clamor of the clashes and explosions, and the sorrow surrounding at least one confirmed civilian death — of Irina Boevets, 30, who was shot through the head while she stood on a balcony several days ago — have driven people inside.The sudden clamor of the clashes and explosions, and the sorrow surrounding at least one confirmed civilian death — of Irina Boevets, 30, who was shot through the head while she stood on a balcony several days ago — have driven people inside.
Some say that whether or not the Ukrainian forces attack in force before the vote, the events to date have already pushed tensions beyond the reach of negotiations or reason.Some say that whether or not the Ukrainian forces attack in force before the vote, the events to date have already pushed tensions beyond the reach of negotiations or reason.
“There’s already no peaceful solution, and there can’t be one,” said another man, Aleksei, who with Denis and several other men had felled a large dead tree beside a residential street.“There’s already no peaceful solution, and there can’t be one,” said another man, Aleksei, who with Denis and several other men had felled a large dead tree beside a residential street.
“Everything,” he said, “will end with lots of blood.”“Everything,” he said, “will end with lots of blood.”
Like other men on the street, he displayed little affection for the rebels. Nor was he especially interested in the question the rebels have raised, about whether Ukraine’s eastern provinces should remain part of the country, or seek closer ties with Russia.Like other men on the street, he displayed little affection for the rebels. Nor was he especially interested in the question the rebels have raised, about whether Ukraine’s eastern provinces should remain part of the country, or seek closer ties with Russia.
Security and work, he said, were more important.Security and work, he said, were more important.
“I don’t care what country we’re in,” he said. “Say in Russia, in Ukraine, in the federal People’s Republic of the Donbass. We don’t care.”“I don’t care what country we’re in,” he said. “Say in Russia, in Ukraine, in the federal People’s Republic of the Donbass. We don’t care.”
Since the rebels pushed out the government here, he noted, there is a power vacuum. Any sense of stability has been lost. The city is surrounded by its country’s own army. A rebel curfew makes nights a frightening landscape of jumpy gunmen at checkpoints and on patrols.Since the rebels pushed out the government here, he noted, there is a power vacuum. Any sense of stability has been lost. The city is surrounded by its country’s own army. A rebel curfew makes nights a frightening landscape of jumpy gunmen at checkpoints and on patrols.
“The normal people just want to be able to call the police and say, ‘Help!’ and be protected,” Aleksei said. “But we don’t have that now.”“The normal people just want to be able to call the police and say, ‘Help!’ and be protected,” Aleksei said. “But we don’t have that now.”
The rebels do run an ad hoc prison in the city’s center. It holds dozens of people the de facto authorities describe as “fascists,” using their preferred term for their foes.The rebels do run an ad hoc prison in the city’s center. It holds dozens of people the de facto authorities describe as “fascists,” using their preferred term for their foes.
But it also holds Ukrainian journalists and unarmed activists, according to the friends and families of several missing people.But it also holds Ukrainian journalists and unarmed activists, according to the friends and families of several missing people.
The few who have been released described beatings and sinister threats.The few who have been released described beatings and sinister threats.
One woman, from nearby Krasny Liman, ventured into the city this week to seek her son, Igor Oprya, 18, who she said had been arrested by rebels after arriving in Slovyansk by train from Kiev.One woman, from nearby Krasny Liman, ventured into the city this week to seek her son, Igor Oprya, 18, who she said had been arrested by rebels after arriving in Slovyansk by train from Kiev.
He was coming home from college, she said, and arrived to a city without regular public transportation. So he set out by foot to find another way home, calling his mother every few minutes.He was coming home from college, she said, and arrived to a city without regular public transportation. So he set out by foot to find another way home, calling his mother every few minutes.
Then his phone went dead.Then his phone went dead.
The rebels, she said, later admitted to holding him, but offered no clear process for checking on his health or seeking his release.The rebels, she said, later admitted to holding him, but offered no clear process for checking on his health or seeking his release.
“They said they’d interrogate him and let him out, but he hasn’t left yet,” said his mother Oksana.“They said they’d interrogate him and let him out, but he hasn’t left yet,” said his mother Oksana.
Mr. Ponomaryov, in an interview this week, took a hard line.Mr. Ponomaryov, in an interview this week, took a hard line.
“Those who remain are prisoners of war,” he said. “They carried out sabotage, killed our people, they prepared for this.”“Those who remain are prisoners of war,” he said. “They carried out sabotage, killed our people, they prepared for this.”
He added: “I will never show my humane face with fascists. The fascists are destined for destruction. You got it? That’s all.”He added: “I will never show my humane face with fascists. The fascists are destined for destruction. You got it? That’s all.”
With the emotions at such pitch, Tatyana, the teacher, was ready to move into her newly stocked bunker, and weather a descent into war. She had a guest — one of her blind students who lives outside Mariupol, whose parents have not been able to retrieve her since a bloody clash near the school last week.With the emotions at such pitch, Tatyana, the teacher, was ready to move into her newly stocked bunker, and weather a descent into war. She had a guest — one of her blind students who lives outside Mariupol, whose parents have not been able to retrieve her since a bloody clash near the school last week.
The student, Natasha, 16, predicted the troubles would not end.The student, Natasha, 16, predicted the troubles would not end.
“My friend from school says, ‘Everything will calm down.’ She’s very positive,” Natasha said. “But everything, it seems to me, is just beginning.”“My friend from school says, ‘Everything will calm down.’ She’s very positive,” Natasha said. “But everything, it seems to me, is just beginning.”