The Ukrainian government has attempted to crack down on such “traitors” from the early days of the war, with President Volodymyr Zelensky signing anti-collaboration legislation into law quickly after the invasion began on Feb. 24.
The city was a hellscape of destroyed buildings, with the constant booms of incoming and outgoing artillery fire.
Despite the carnage, hundreds of civilians in Soledar—originally a small city of just over 10,000 inhabitants—are reluctant to leave. Many want to remain in their homes, unwilling to be intimidated by the Russians. Others, like the elderly and infirm, have no choice. The loosely organized group of volunteers—who agreed to be followed by The Daily Beast—were helping evacuate those who were in no physical shape to attempt to leave on their own.
Whether they realized that our group was made up of journalists and volunteers is unclear. The journalists were all clearly decked out in press vests, but the volunteers were all military-aged men clad in body armor. Russian authorities have frequently claimed that groups of “foreign mercenaries’” were fighting on the Ukrainian side, and it’s possible they thought we were one. Perhaps they didn’t care either way.
Authorities in the Donetsk region often stop cars near the front lines to check residents’ phones and make sure they have not been communicating with the other side. The Russians are said to offer hefty cash rewards for details on Ukrainian military positions and troop movements.
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