"Wiped Off the Face of the Earth": The Tragic Story of Vovchansk, Ukraine

Kharkiv, Ukraine — Vovchansk, an industrial town just five kilometers from the Russian border, has become an emblem of devastation in Ukraine. Mayor Tamaz Gambarashvili and survivors recount the relentless destruction of their city, which has been "flattened" amid intense Russian bombardments.

Drone footage from the Ukrainian military captures the haunting sight: ruins stretching across Vovchansk, where about 20,000 people once lived. Today, the city is a memory sustained only by those who escaped.

Rapid Destruction of Vovchansk

The destruction of Vovchansk was swift. According to Gambarashvili, 90% of the city's center has been reduced to rubble, with six out of every ten buildings destroyed entirely. The remaining structures are partially damaged, leaving the city looking "like a lunar landscape."

For survivors like Nelia Stryzhakova, head of the city’s library, the loss is both physical and cultural. She recalls a city that once bustled with schools, workshops, and a state-of-the-art hospital rebuilt with European aid. The once-thriving city has turned into a battlefield between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

Civilians Under Siege

Lieutenant Denys Yaroslavsky, a Ukrainian officer who fought in the infamous "meatgrinder" battle of Bakhmut, notes that what took months in other regions occurred in mere weeks in Vovchansk. A lack of fortifications allowed Russian forces to infiltrate, leaving the city defenseless against the onslaught. Thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes, while those who remained were subject to severe bombardment.

Galyna Zharova, who lived in an apartment building reduced to ruins, shares the harrowing experience of spending nearly a month in her cellar. "We were right on the front line, with drones like mosquitoes buzzing above," she recalls. Eventually, Zharova and her husband fled on foot, rescued only by Ukrainian volunteers after days of hiding.

A City Divided and Destroyed

For many in Vovchansk, the emotional toll is equally devastating. Families have been divided by war, with relatives in both Ukraine and Russia now estranged. Kira Dzhafarova, a former resident, speaks of her "former brother" in Russia and her mother, likely dead, who had refused to leave her home.

The scars of loss run deep for others, like Raisa Zymovska, who recalls how her husband and mother-in-law were killed by Russian forces. Zymovska, who barely escaped, now holds onto a single hope: to find their bodies and offer a proper burial.

The Future of Vovchansk: Uncertain and Fragile

The future of Vovchansk remains uncertain, with the remaining few residents and officials questioning whether it can be rebuilt. Survivors like librarian Stryzhakova struggle to move forward. She admits that her perception of Russia has irrevocably changed after losing her only son in the war. "They took my son," she states, grappling with the personal devastation inflicted by the conflict.

As Ukraine continues to fight back, Vovchansk stands as a tragic reminder of the toll of war, both on the physical landscape and on the lives of those who once called it home.