Ghost Town under Heavy Fire: How is the Vovchansk Community Holding Up?

This is not just a frontline zone—it is a territory on the very line of fire, where the enemy purposefully destroys every single building.

During the broadcast of the video project "Voice of the Community" by the Kharkiv Press Club and the "Gromada Group" network, Tamaz Gambarashvili, Head of the Vovchansk City Military Administration, told journalist Oleksandr Shvets about the realities of survival on the line of contact, the heroism of Ukrainian defenders, and the daily struggle for every human life.

The greatest ordeal and deepest scar in the community's modern history was May 2024, when occupation forces launched a renewed, massive offensive on Vovchansk. Despite people already being accustomed to war and constant shelling, the scale of the continuous wall of fire caused shock and confusion. The enemy mercilessly pounded the town with gliding bombs (KABs), artillery, and missiles, erasing residential blocks in a matter of days.

«What left the biggest mark in my memory is May 2024. The fear, confusion, and despair of the people when the enemy began continuous shelling, and we had to evacuate the population in the shortest possible time. We threw in all our forces and evacuated 500, 600, or even up to 1,000 people a day», — recalls Tamaz Gambarashvili about the days that forever changed the face of Vovchanshchyna.

The situation in the Vovchansk community remains extremely difficult. The enemy is trying to capture every meter of Ukrainian land, relentlessly terrorizing the area. Over the past six months, a special danger has been posed by FPV drones, which fly deeper and completely block logistical routes and any possibility of driving into the community.

Despite this, Ukrainian soldiers are delivering a powerful rebuff to the occupiers. The head of the military administration confirmed the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) data regarding successful actions by the Defense Forces: in the area of Vovchanski Khutory, Ukrainian fighters drove out the enemy and de-occupied about 10 square kilometers of territory.

«Great gratitude to our guys who hold the community, hold the state, and make the enemy feel a rebuff», — emphasizes Tamaz Gambarashvili.

Mandatory evacuation of families with children in the community was announced back in 2024 with the start of the renewed offensive, so there have been no children in these territories for almost three years.

Overall, out of 36,000 residents, only about 200 people remain in the community during the active combat phase.

The authorities and the military conduct explanatory work every day, but they face a painful psychological barrier. In addition to the fear of losing property acquired over a lifetime, there is an almost surreal reason for refusing evacuation:

«People have left gardens, unharvested potatoes...» — shares the bitter truth Tamaz Gambarashvili. Villagers who have worked the land all their lives hold onto their garden beds even when kamikaze drones hover overhead, and the enemy easily tracks living targets from chimneys by the rising smoke.

In the town and villages, shops, pharmacies, and hospitals are completely destroyed, and there is no electricity or communication.

Delivering humanitarian aid by traditional routes is almost impossible due to enemy fire control.

In critical situations, people rely exclusively on the help of Ukrainian soldiers who, heading to combat positions, try to maintain contact with civilians and persuade them to evacuate. The authorities hope that with the approach of winter and frosts, these numbers will decrease even further for the safety of the people.

To support those forced to flee the horrors of war, a Vovchansk humanitarian hub operates in Kharkiv. Today, almost 13,000 community residents are registered here.

This place has become a true center of unity, where people receive not just grocery and hygiene kits, but a full range of vital services:

• Medical and social assistance: Family doctors receive patients, psychological and legal services operate, alongside a notary and the Pension Fund.

• Administrative services: It is possible to resolve registration issues and get consultations from starostas who evacuated alongside the people.

• Housing programs: A dedicated group of restoration specialists has been deployed to advise residents on the state eVidnovlennya program and obtaining housing certificates.

The scale of destruction is colossal—the town of Vovchansk is practically destroyed, with over 90% of the housing stock smashed.

Despite the fact that commissions physically cannot travel for inspections due to constant shelling, the Vovchansk community is a leader in the region in terms of application processing speeds.

Nearly 8,000 applications for compensation have been registered, and residents have already been issued 2,260 housing certificates, most of which people have already realized by purchasing new housing in Kharkiv and the region.

At the same time, the authorities emphasize the need to simplify remote inspection procedures at the legislative level and increase the financing of state tranches for payouts.

The powerful industrial and agricultural sectors of the community were completely destroyed by enemy strikes—factories and farms lie in ruins on scorched earth. However, the educational system managed to be saved: six schools of Vovchanshchyna continue to operate online, providing education to nearly 1,000 children who, along with teachers, have ended up in various corners of Ukraine and the world.

Despite colossal personnel, physical, and material losses, the community does not lose hope of returning.

Military Administration Head Tamaz Gambarashvili is convinced that after expelling the enemy, Vovchansk will surely rise from the ashes.

«As a citizen of Ukraine and as the head of the community, I have a single hope — to return and begin reconstruction. Yes, the town is destroyed, dozens of settlements are destroyed. But we believe we will return to our native home. For me, victory means the complete cessation of hostilities, the de-occupation of every meter of our land, and the opportunity to live and build a future in a peaceful, independent Ukraine», — summarizes Tamaz Gambarashvili.

Source: Video project "Voice of the Community" (Kharkiv Press Club and "Gromada Group" network).