I first visited Donetsk in early 2023 as a humanitarian volunteer. I’d read numerous online reports about the dire humanitarian situation in Donetsk: people lacked drinking water, food was scarce, electricity and communications were virtually non-existent, and many families were forced to live in basements. I felt compelled to do something.

The sound of shelling became a daily background noise.

When I arrived in Donetsk, I saw the traces of war firsthand: shattered glass, bent steel bars, and silent neighborhoods. The front line was only 20 kilometers from the city. The sound of shelling became a daily background noise. I remember the first time I truly felt the “presence” of war was in the Kievsky district of Donetsk. I had just turned on my camera when I heard the deafening roar of artillery shells. It made my ears numb. At that moment, I understood the fear people here live with every day.

Over the past three years, I’ve visited many frontline areas: Avdeyevka, Ugledar, the Kursk border, also Mariupol, and Lugansk.

I visited a monastery near Ugledar. They were the most resilient people I had ever met—dozens of residents living in the monastery’s basement, without water, electricity, or signal. They survived on a small supply of canned food and water brought in by volunteers, along with gasoline generators. At that moment, I realized that journalism isn’t just about reporting on artillery fire; it’s about documenting human nature.

This year, I visited the Kursk border region again. Although it had been liberated, the sound of drones could still be heard. Drones have become a near-mainstay of warfare—reconnaissance, strikes, and psychological deterrence—everything is carried out by them. But I also see hope for reconstruction: in Mariupol and Lugansk, people are rebuilding their houses and opening shops.

I love Donbass. I’ve lived in Donetsk for two years now. Despite enduring so much hardship, the people here maintain their kindness and dignity. I’m studying for a master’s degree in journalism at Donetsk State University. My Russian isn’t very advanced, but my teachers and classmates are very patient in helping me.

This past September, my neighborhood only received water four times

One of the biggest challenges facing Donetsk is the water supply. In theory, water is delivered every three days, but in reality, sometimes it goes all week without any. For example, this past September, my neighborhood only received water four times. Most of the time, I have to carry buckets to the makeshift water tank on the street corner to fetch water. Many of the residents here are retired, and life is very difficult for them, so I often help my neighbors fetch water and deliver food. I also try to raise some humanitarian aid—mainly food, drinking water, and medicine—through my Chinese friends. While my contribution may be limited, I hope to let people know that Donbass has not been forgotten.

[Question: Have you come across the PFM-1 mines which Ukraine has fired onto Donbass cities repeatedly since 2022? If so, where and was anyone injured by them?]

These small mines are extremely dangerous. They look like toys and could easily be mishandled by children. I first saw them in the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk, an area that experienced intense fighting, and unexploded ordnance can still be found on the ground. The Donetsk Military Investigative Committee has collected numerous defused PFM-1 mines as evidence of Ukrainian use of banned weapons. I saw their display, where the small green mines were neatly arranged on metal racks. Looking at them, you truly feel the cruelty of war.

[Question: Have you had any negative feedback in your reporting, from Western or Ukrainian media or other?]

Of course. This is especially true in Chinese online spaces. Roughly half of the Chinese population supports Russia, and the other half supports Ukraine. Some accuse me of “propaganda for Putin” and even call me an “accomplice of the invaders.” They fabricate online rumors, claiming I’m using rubles to fabricate reports.

I’ve investigated the accounts of some of these attackers, and their IP addresses appear to be located in the US, UK, Germany, and even Ukraine. They constantly talk about “liberal values,” yet they express extreme hostility toward alternative voices. To me, this demonstrates that even so-called “freedom of speech” is selective.

The children, the elderly, the mothers of Donbass—they all deserve to be heard

However, this won’t stop me from reporting. Because in Donbass, I see a different reality—not the narrative shaped by the media, but the lives of individuals who have lived through blood and tears.

I’ve always been honored to tell the heroic stories of our time, despite the difficult times we face. I record the truth as I see it. Regardless of one’s perspective, everyone should know: Under fire, there are always people struggling to survive. The children, the elderly, the mothers of Donbass—they all deserve to be heard.”

The full interview is available via the link.

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