Vitaly Suarez: "It's getting harder and harder to get food and medicine in Kherson"
In the latest edition of "De Cara al Mundo", Atalayar's radio programme, we interviewed Ukrainian Vitaly Suárez, son of Spanish businessman Julio Suárez Rodríguez, manager of the Cortuhondo Group, a Spanish company based in Kherson, Ukraine. Vitaly tells us first-hand about the situation in the city, currently blockaded by the Russian army. The Ukrainian explains in Atalayar the fear that the citizens live in front of a new bombing and the possibility that more relatives continue losing their lives in the war. Finally, Vitaly would like to ask for the collaboration of all those who can contribute financially, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to find food and medicine in the city of Kherson.
How is the situation in Kherson?
It's very bad, the news that we get on television is all Russian precedents, the internet only works at times, we often have no reception, and right now the city is completely controlled by Russian troops.
How are you being treated by the Russian troops?
It's not bad, but it's not good either. Today we were told that they were shooting at cars trying to pass through the checkpoints. In my case, as I pass through the three checkpoints between my house and the village every day, I can't say that this has happened to me, nor that I have been treated badly, but Kherson is very well controlled.
Is there enough medicine and food for the population of Kherson?
It is becoming more and more difficult to get food and medicine in Kherson, there is practically nothing left in the pharmacies. Every day we have to travel many kilometres to collect medicine and food, we are looking everywhere. Sometimes we even have to pay a lot of money for food or medicine to help people who are in need and hungry.
How does it feel to risk your life every day to help your compatriots?
I feel happy and grateful to be able to help people. Every day I get up early and draw up a plan of action to see what is the way to get more food or medicine, I communicate with the people I know to see what is most urgent, now we are trying to get flour for our children who produce bread. People are very grateful, I try to visit and spend time with the elderly, we talk and I try to reassure them, and that's my day to day life.
There may be more fighting or bombings in the city... Are you afraid?
Of course I'm afraid, we've already had a very bad time with the bombings, every night you expect that there might be another shooting or bombs might be dropped again. Besides, it's not only that, you are also afraid for your family and friends, at any moment a loved one could be killed and that's something that terrifies me.
Do you want to send a message to Spain?
I would like to thank everyone who is supporting us and collaborating with us from Spain. I would like to ask for the collaboration of everyone who can support us financially as this is the only way I can help the people of Kherson. Right now the roads to the city are cut off and we can't receive any goods, neither is the humanitarian aid that they are sending us, the solution we have is with the money that we receive, to travel many kilometres every day in search of food and medicine.
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