**People Who Choose to Stay in Front-Line Areas**
Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast – A taxi driver named Serhiy Pohrebnyakov sits calmly behind the wheel, waiting for customers despite a loud explosion going off nearby. His wife and daughter fled Druzhkivka after the start of the full-scale invasion, leaving him alone in the town.
Pohrebnyakov goes out on his route every day to make money to help his family, who are now in Germany. “I work to earn money for my family,” he says. “When my daughter calls me and says, ‘Dad, I love you,’ it gives me the strength to get up in the morning and drive.”
**Staying Behind**
Despite being under increased shelling and aerial attacks by Russian forces, many people have chosen to stay in Druzhkivka. Around 36,000 people remain in the town, which has also become a hub for soldiers in the rear of the front lines.
Entrepreneur Halyna Khomchenko has stayed behind to continue helping locals. “We are where we are needed,” she says. Her Child Development and Assistance Center provides emotional support to children who have experienced trauma during the war.
**Life Amidst Devastation**
Food is now readily available in Druzhkivka, but reliable access to water remains a challenge due to Russian shelling. Khomchenko’s bakery has become a vital source of bread for the town’s residents.
Shop owner Halina Radchenko provides essential goods and services to soldiers before and after their missions. Her shop has become a place where soldiers can find what they need while on the front lines.
**A Plan for Restoration**
Despite being close to the frontline, local authorities are developing a plan to restore Druzhkivka. They are confident that the town will have peace, development, and a future as part of Ukraine.
“We understand that we are on the right track, in the right place, at the right time,” Khomchenko says.
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