A few bags nearby, a pet in their arms, and a great deal of uncertainty ahead. This is what the first few hours after evacuation look like for the hundreds of people who arrive daily at the transit center in Lozova, Kharkiv Oblast.
These moments were captured by American photographer and friend of the “Sхід SOS” Charitable Foundation, Carlo Bravo. This isn’t his first visit to Lozova to tell the stories of evacuees through his photographs.
Every day, between 150 and 300 people pass through the transit center in Lozova, including those from Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. The evacuation continues, as the Russian army relentlessly attacks residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, and critical infrastructure.
One of the photos shows Mr. Oleksandr from Kramatorsk. He has suffered two strokes and cannot move on his own. That day, a team from the “Skhid SOS” Charitable Foundation transported him from Lozova to Dnipro and helped arrange temporary accommodation at the “Ocean of Goodness” NGO’s Social Adaptation Center for People with Disabilities. There, he will receive the necessary support and care.
Other photos show Ms. Viktoria and Ms. Hanna. The women were injured during the Russian shelling of Druzhkivka. Rescuers from the State Emergency Service pulled them from under the rubble, after which they received treatment in Kramatorsk. From there, evacuation crews from the “Sхід SOS” Charitable Foundation transported them to Lozova.
For people with families waiting for them, the transit center is just a few hours before they continue on their journey. For those who are alone, it’s their first night of relative peace and a place where they can recover from the evacuation, receive support, and find options for future housing.
Based on materials from the “Sхід SOS” Charitable Foundation