Just weeks ago, Kharkiv buzzed as Ukraine’s vibrant cultural and economic hub. Today, the city’s streets tell a different story. CGTN stringer Olga, a lifelong resident, describes a landscape reshaped by air raid sirens and makeshift shelters. 'We’ve swapped cafés for bunkers,' she says. 'The hum of drones has replaced the sound of trams.'
Daily essentials like water and medicine now require strategic planning, with supermarkets operating limited hours and pharmacies rationing supplies. Over 80% of Kharkiv’s pre-war population has fled, but those remaining—like Olga—have adapted to a new rhythm of survival. Local volunteer networks deliver food to elderly residents, while hospitals prioritize emergency care.
In a rare on-the-ground account, a finance sector worker reveals the collapse of traditional banking. Mobile payment apps dominate transactions, yet internet outages complicate even these efforts. 'Cash is scarce,' he explains. 'We’re trading skills for supplies—a mechanic fixes a generator in exchange for flour.'
Despite the challenges, community theaters host impromptu performances in subway stations, and activists organize rooftop solar panel installations. 'We’re writing Kharkiv’s next chapter,' Olga says. 'It’s not the one we wanted, but it’s ours.'
Reference(s):
What is life like in Kharkiv amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict?
cgtn.com
