‘Luxury’ Underground Residence in Kharkiv

Until now, missiles and artillery targeting Kharkiv are launched almost every day. Some residents have fled the city. It is understandable that the underground station offers a “luxury” for some people.

KOMPAS/HARRY SUSILO

Residents are forced to live in a subway (metro) station in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday (6/7/2022). They fled from their homes to underground stations because they felt insecure about the situation in Kharkiv, which was attacked by missiles and artillery almost every day. Others were forced to flee because their homes had been destroyed by the bombing.

Stretching out his legs, Vasiliy (49) sipped cold soup from a plastic bowl, and then devoured a slice of whole wheat bread. With only a thin sleeping bag between his back and the cold floor of the station, the man with white hair watched passersby about to board the train.

Vasiliy is living in an underground metro station in Kharkiv, Ukraine. He only had some clothes, bedding, food and important documents. “I have lived in this station for two weeks. Two weeks before that, I slept at another metro station,” he said when we met him on Wednesday afternoon (6/7/2022).

Vasiliy slept in his sleeping bag in a row, crammed in alongside 100 other people crowding the station floor. The refugees left little room for passengers to pass by as they boarded and disembarked the trains.

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It was during that month that Vasiliy found a “luxury” that he hadn’t found anywhere else. “Staying here is like staying at a five-star hotel. It’s very comfortable. I sleep well, eat twice a day and there is always water when I want to take a shower,” said Vasiliy.

Among all the “luxuries”, the most valuable for Vasiliy was the fact that he could sleep peacefully in the underground station without worrying about being hit by Russian missiles. Russian missiles target Kharkiv almost every night or early morning.

Prior to seeking shelter to the station, Vasiliy lived in the Saltivka residential complex in Saltivsky district, Kharkiv, most of which has been destroyed by missiles and artillery. He lived in one of the nine-story apartment blocks.

Vasiliy fled his apartment in early March 2022, when Kharkiv was being bombarded every day. “I was depressed,” said the former English teacher.

When I first moved to the station, there were more than 1,000 people already here, too. It was very crowded.

He then moved around and stayed with several friends. Finally, a month ago, Vasiliy found the “luxury” he couldn’t find anywhere else: the underground station.

“When I first moved to the station, there were more than 1,000 people already here, too. It was very crowded,” he said.

He was greatly aided by the food rations that were distributed twice a day by one of the humanitarian volunteer communities. When the war broke out on 24 Feb. 2022, his school had laid him off, so he now has no source of income.

The refugees’ bedding was lined up at the underground station. Some brought mattresses or sleeping bags, while others brought beds or even tents. Strangers at first, they are now like neighbors.

Sometimes in the morning or afternoon, Vasiliy left the station to go for a walk or to shop for groceries. “The station door closes at 10 p.m. and opens again at 6 a.m., so we must be inside before 10 p.m.,” Vasiliy said.

KOMPAS/HARRY SUSILO

People stay at a subway (metro) station in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday (6/7/2022). They fled from their homes to underground stations because they felt insecure about the situation in Kharkiv, which was attacked by missiles and artillery almost every day.

Whenever Vasiliy leaves the station, he usually leaves his belongings as they are. “Here, we all share and endure the same adversities. No one would steal,” he said.

Another Kharkiv resident, Tatyana (50), also said that she was comfortable sleeping in the underground station, despite being crammed on the floor in sleeping bags. She has been sleeping at the station for the last two weeks.

Closed

There is another underground station located at some distance from the center of Kharkiv that is also home to refugees. At least 126 people have taken up residence there. They come from all corners of Kharkiv province. The only difference is that the station is closed to passengers and is used only as a refugee camp.

Luda Hurowaya (50) took refuge at this station on 24 Feb. 2022. Vesyloe village, where she lived, was overrun by Russian troops at the beginning of the war. This is because the village is located near Russian borders. “I went straight to Kharkiv with just the clothes I was wearing,” she said on Thursday.

Frightened by the explosions of the ongoing battle, Hurowaya headed straight for the underground station to take cover with other citizens. When the war broke out in late February, police said more than 2,500 people had taken refuge at that underground station.

At first, Hurowaya only slept on the floor of the station, as she had not brought anything with her. Then, humanitarian volunteers provided her with clothes, and she used one item as her bedding. “Here, I can sleep peacefully without any fear of being hit by a bomb,” said the woman.

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One volunteer who takes care of the refugees at the underground station is Jakub Jaworski (42). The Polish man has been living in the underground station for the past month, ensuring that all 126 refugees are given three meals a day.

Until now, missiles and artillery targeting Kharkiv are launched almost every day. Some residents have fled the city. Those who decided to stay because of work must find a way so they can sleep comfortably, including taking sleeping pills.

“The explosions are very disturbing and worrying, but what can we do?” said Aleksander (24), who works as a waiter. He wakes up every day at 4 a.m., because that is when the missile attacks usually come.

In such circumstances, it is understandable that the underground station offers a “luxury” for some people.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.