In the Russian-controlled town of Pisky, near Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, Maria Seryogova walks through a dilapidated Soviet-era apartment block, reminiscing about her time spent there with her grandson amidst the remnants of collapsed roofs and walls. Seryogova and other former residents have returned to document the destruction, hoping for compensation from the current authorities.
Expressing shock at the scene before her, Seryogova gestures toward graffiti-covered walls in what was once her living room, now an eerie space filled with rubble. The conflict in eastern Ukraine dates back to 2014 before the visible incursion of Russian troops in 2019 at the start of the ongoing war.
Pisky, a town deeply scarred by heavy fighting and changing allegiances, saw its population drastically reduced to a mere dozen residents. The devastation has forced many, like Seryogova, to seek refuge elsewhere, leaving behind homes that now stand as mere memories amidst the ruins.
Yevgeniy, another former inhabitant of Pisky, returned after 11 years to find his family home reduced to nothing but debris, lamenting the loss and the sight of what was once a lively dwelling now reduced to emptiness.
Facing the monumental task of rebuilding their shattered community, residents like Yekaterina Tkachenko, who left her cherished apartment in 2014, question the possibility of restoration amid such extensive damage, wondering who will step in to rectify the destruction.