Sole Resident Rebuilds Life in Abandoned Donetsk Town After War

Return to Marinka

• 📌 Galina Nevaniah is the first and only resident to return to the town of Marinka in the Donetsk region, nearly three years after mass evacuations.
• 💔 She was the last to leave in September 2022 during heavy shelling, which caused her a concussion and trapped her in a basement before military rescuers intervened.

Rebuilding Amidst Destruction

• 🏠 Nevaniah is dedicating her days to restoring her heavily damaged home, surrounded by destroyed houses and charred trees.
• 💥 The damage, including blown-out windows and a collapsed rooftop, is a stark reminder of the conflict.
• 🗣️ When asked why she returned to be the town's sole inhabitant, she responded with a proverb: "He who lives in his own home lives well."

The Town's Status

• 🗺️ Marinka, which had a pre-war population of about 10,000, is now largely abandoned.
• 🇷🇺 In December 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Marinka under full Russian control, one of four Ukrainian regions Russia claimed in 2022.
• 🌍 This claim has been condemned as illegal by most countries.