FreeСХІД.ua # 32 Who “freed” Rodina-village, where do they earn the most in Luhansk region, and how to open café in Krakow
If you have no idea what it takes to open a café, you might consult Donetsk-native Maksym Zaselian, who opened awesome café in the Polish city of Krakow. If you are looking for an unusual and inexpensive house to call a home, contact Andriy Pyvovarov from Horlivka-town – he builds dome-shaped houses.
If we need a way out of the long-lasting war in the East of Ukraine, we need to find it on our own; the way Serhiy Harmash is doing it. Serhiy is Donetsk journalist who made detailed plan of possible way of reintegrating the occupied territories.
Meanwhile, Svatovo started improving area around one of the most mysterious attraction in Luhansk region – Preobrazhensky caves.
That is the way to get things done! After all, as they say, it is totally up to drowning man – sink or swim:)
#FreeINNITIATIVE
This week Serhiy Harmash from Research Center of Donbas Social Perspectives suggested a new way to end long lasting armed conflict in the East of Ukraine. He offers using not just peacekeeping missions in Donbas, but shifting missions’ objectives – creating Temporary International Administration (TIA) with the component of armed UN peacekeepers as TIA’s guard and means of securing mandate.
What is this mission like, and what is the extent of its authority?
- control over the region is transferred to international mediator with UN mandate composed of countries-signatories of Budapest Memorandum, members of the UN Security Council, including Russia;
- major TIA executive tool should not be military power, but control over financial and material flows to “DNR”-“LNR”, including flows from Russia;
- TIA will be in full control of the border, and both Russia and Ukraine will commit to using exclusively TIA for all of the financial and resource in-flows to the region;
- TIA will introduce its own temporary alternative taxation system, so that subjects of economic activity in the region pay taxes to TIA, and not to “DNR” – “LNR”;
- after TIA asserts control over all the occupied region, it will start preparations for the election to local government in accordance with the Ukrainian law, and with the involvement of Ukrainian political powers and media. TIA will facilitate the return of internally displaced persons.
Meanwhile, Ukraine adopts the Law “On Amnesty” waving criminal prosecution of everyone who have not been a member of illegal military group, have not committed war crimes, or crimes against humanity.
#FreeZONE
On July 1st this year Ukrainians learned about “liberation” of Rodina-village (Zolote-4) in Luhansk region. So, what is going on at the long lost and finally found village of Rodina?
First, there was the news of Ukrainian national banner over the local Culture House, then, came the confirmation from JFO headquarters, later, “LNR” militants admitted they had no control over the village of Rodina; then another claim from the HQ: “Joint Forces have never confirmed that Zolote-4 was being controlled by Russian mercenaries”. Is this just a confusion in the turmoil of war? Meanwhile, village residents are struggling with multiple every-day problems.
Salary. The majority of Rodina residents are miners. During the last few months they received UAH300 – 1500 (EUR1-50) in salary.
Power. Regular power surges (120 to 300 watt) burn down household appliances. Expensive power-surge protectors are rendered useless.
Water. Village residents keep vegetable gardens, but not all of the land is being farmed. Water bills, however, substantially exceed water usage.
Coal. Miners (even former miners) must be supplied with enough coal to meet house-heating needs. However, coal is not provided to the village residents.
Poverty. Some residents of Rodina survive on UAH2000 (EUR65) per month. And occasionally they also have to help their IDP family members. Village population is 760 people (about 1500 people before the war). 83 households fall under the category of law-income, 52 people are officially unemployed.
Checkpoint. There is “Zolote” checkpoint right next to the village. It serves as a checkpoint for residents of Katerynivka and Rodina villages – both located in between “LNR” and the checkpoint. “Zolote” checkpoint used to operate on the same schedule as other checkpoints, which imposed additional hardships on the village residents. Now, the checkpoint operational hours are 4:30 am to 10 pm during summer, and 6 am to 8 pm in spring, autumn and winter time.
Khutor. Part of the village is so called “Khutor” – it is separated from the rest of the village by yet another checkpoint, and can only be reached by people registered as local residents.
Oblivion. The village of Rodina was not formally freed, so no officials have ever come here. Last time Red Cross brought humanitarian aid to the village was February 2017.
#FreeLUHANSK
Visitors to Luhansk region might be surprised when vehicle driver takes dirt road detour instead of a paved road. The locals, however, are used such arrangement. ”Realna gazeta” told what is happening on the roads of Luhansk region, and why shorter rout does not necessarily mean getting home faster.
July 3 to 7 residents of Luhansk region had the opportunity to visit the first, since 2014, informal exhibition hosted by art-space “Budka”. The exhibition was held by local young artists, and entrance fee could be paid in… candles.
#FreeNUMBER
Who gets the highest salaries in Luhansk region?
As it turns out, average monthly salary in January-March 2018 was almost UAH 6 600. Siverodonetsk-city residents have the highest paid jobs (UAH8 000 per month). They are followed by residents of Popasna (UAH 7 200) and Novoaidar (UAH 6 900) districts. The lowest salaries are in Lysychansk (UAH 6 400) and Bilovodsk, Novopskovsk and Bilokurakinsk districts (UAH 5 000).
#FreeINFOGRAPHICS
Did you know that there is a special “hot-line” for IDPs, where you can get consultation on multiple IDP related issues?
In June total number of calls to the “hot-line” was 2438, including 550 calls from the uncontrolled territories.
If a problem can be solved immediately, the help is provided by phone. Problem that requires further investigation is recorded, filed as a case, and followed till it’s fully addressed. In June, for instance, pension payment was the most urgent issue. Other popular issues were personnel and pension file transfer, and IDP status registration.
Hotline number is 0 800 309 110. Weekday operation hours: 9 am to 9 pm.
#FreeNEWS
During July 12, 2018, session Verkhovna Rada passed Bill #5435 “On the legal status of missing persons”. The document defines notion of “missing person”, affirms the right to know the fate of person’s missing relatives, and regulates missing person search procedure. The law will also allow for creation of unified registry of people who went missing during the armed conflict.
Another round of document submission to “kurkul” competition is over in Donetsk region. This time 59 business projects applied to compete for small and middle business development financial assistance.
Patrol police in Luhansk region started carrying spray-paint. It will be used to paint over drug ads. It took Rubizhne and Siverodonetsk police just a few hours to remove from building walls dozens of dangerous substances sellers’ web addresses.
#FreeTOURISM
In Svatovo a team of “Trukhanivska Sich Train of Ukraine’s Unity” started improving area around one of the most mysterious attractions in Luhansk region – Preobrazhensky caves.
The caves are the network of monastery tunnels presumably dug in the mid-18th century. Narrow monastery tunnels sometimes lead to a dead-end, or end with a pass way to a service space or a prayer room.
Now, activists from all over Ukraine are trying to clear cave entrance: staircase has already been installed, and a hall allowing for soil and rainwater get to one of the tunnels has been sealed. There is just a little more work that needs to be done for the caves to become full-value tourist destination point.
#FreePEOPLE
Maksym ZASELIAN, Donetsk-Krakow
Experienced traveller with 30 thousand subscribers to his YouTube-channel Maksym Zaselian decided to settle in Polish city of Krakow, where he opened café ROOKI Coffee Bar.
He makes delicious Columbian coffee, bakes croissants and serves organic tea. “But the best part is our awesome pastry “tahini roll”. We fell in love with it at Cyprus, and now we are baking chef’s version here in Krakow” – wrote Maksym in his presentation of a new café.
So, if you are ever in Krakow, come by for a cup of coffee!
Andriy PYVOVAROV and Mykhailo SPOTAR, Horlivka – Kharkiv
Two Horlivka guys - founders of “Dekhata” project - are finishing construction of a dome house near Kharkiv.
“Two month ago we came to an empty space. Today we are closing up the entrance and finishing construction. Now the processing starts”, - wrote Pyvovarov at his Facebook page where he published pictures of this unusual home.
#FreeMOVIE
First official trailer to adventure action “The Wild Field” is out. The movie was made after “Voroshilovgrad” novel by Serhiy Zhadan.
Though the name of the movie is different from the novel, action still takes place in and around Starobilsk – boundless field and enigmatic Luhansk border region, where the protagonist Herman will have to fight for his family business, his friends and his principals. The movie is expected at the box-office on November 8, 2018.
See you next week!