Kyiv, Ukraine – In the eastern Ukrainian town named New York, ongoing fighting is characterized by chaos and violence. Before the war, the town had a population of around 3,000, but many residents have fled their homes due to heavy shelling and a constantly shifting front line. A Ukrainian soldier described the situation on Telegram: “It hardly exists as such, because one building is ours, another is already under [Russian control], while a third is again ours.” The current state of the town is marked by explosion craters, destroyed buildings with shattered windows, and hastily dug graves. New York is located about 60 kilometers from Pokrovsk, a Ukrainian defensive stronghold that Russian forces are pressing against.
Moscow claimed earlier this week to have occupied New York, but Kyiv maintains that there is still significant resistance in the area. A military analyst warns that Kyiv should focus on “stopping the dangerous advance in the east,” stating that this is not just about the loss of homes but poses a serious threat to major population centers. Recently, an elderly man was killed by Russian mortar fire in his backyard, leaving his family in deep mourning. His grandson requested help in a Telegram chat to get a photo of his grave. “Help me if you can. Thank you, and God save you all,” the message read early Thursday morning. No one has responded yet.
Those who remain in New York are either too old or disabled to flee, or they wish to live under Moscow, despite the death and destruction they are experiencing. A community leader stated that many still do not understand what Russia brings other than suffering. “They have a complete apocalypse of brains. Russian TV worked better than the Russian shells [that hit] their houses,” said Nadiya Gordiyuk, a teacher who has herself left Ukraine.
The fighting in New York is just part of Russia’s advance towards Toretsk, a densely populated industrial area where Soviet-era factories sit alongside coal mines. The town is located about 50 kilometers south of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russian forces in May 2023 after a prolonged siege.
The conflict has instilled fear among residents in nearby areas, who know their hometowns could be next to be reduced to ruins. “The elderly will not leave, regardless of the conditions, even if [the Russians] come through,” said Lesya Gabar, who has family in Mykolaivka, located 70 kilometers north of New York.
In Slovyansk, a town 80 kilometers northeast of Pokrovsk, residents also feel the impact of the front line. “When you go out to densely populated areas, you immediately think: ‘Is it safe to stand here now, or can something come flying?’” explained Alina, a university student.
The conflict in the east has taken a heavy toll on the Ukrainian economy, and analyses indicate that Kyiv’s losses are almost insignificant compared to the areas lost, including major steel factories and industrial resources that have historically been the foundation of the country’s economic activity.
The situation in New York and the rest of eastern Ukraine remains critical as the fight between Ukrainian forces and Russian troops intensifies.