2023-09-29 19:54:32
The famous prose writer, editor-in-chief of Literaturnaya Gazeta Maxim Zamshev returned from the LPR on September 29, where for several days he spoke as part of a writing delegation to civilians and air defense soldiers undergoing treatment in local hospitals. Having just set foot on Moscow soil, Zamshev shared his impressions of the trip.
– Maxim Adolfovich, how many days did you spend in Donbass?
– Three days, just returned this morning.
– Which writers traveled with you?
– Poets Alexander Chistyakov, Roman Sorokin, Alexander Ermakov and Evgeny Karunin, as well as the famous artist and poet Alexander Tsurkan and journalist Oleg Pukhnavtsev. We all participated in the project “And the battle continues again…”, organized by the Moscow city organization of the Russian Federation with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development.
– How did you see Lugansk? How does 9 years of fighting feel when you are there? Is the capital of the LPR now a “rear” or “front” city?
– If we consider that Krasnodon, which is even further from the “front line,” was recently shelled, then Lugansk cannot be called completely rear-facing. But the city lives and is being restored, mainly thanks to Moscow, which takes care of it.
During the year of being part of Russia, there were many obvious improvements – roads, transport, shops, infrastructure. Despite the curfew and other circumstances of being in a combat zone, Lugansk residents are trying to live a peaceful life.
There is a circus and theaters, we attended a play about Yesenin…
– Is the unrecognized state of the past visible in the appearance of the capital? Have all-Russian retail chains entered Lugansk, and are “mainland” mobile communications working?
– Russian communications are mostly working. I saw supermarkets of one well-known chain; they appeared after the entry of new territories into the Russian Federation – a lot of stores appeared, this is striking.
Of course, nine years of existence in difficult conditions have not passed without a trace – there is still a lot of work to do. But now from the point of view of food and services, everything is more or less good.
– What works did you read there?
– Variety. Of course, connected with all these events, but people like us live there: they want both lyrics and humorous poetry.
At the Academy. M.L. We read more lyrical poems by Matusovsky, because young people were sitting there, the weather was good, the building was beautiful – and the mood was appropriate. There are such beautiful streets around – they say they inspired Matusovsky to become a poet.
– What can you say about the emotional state of local residents? Can you feel the fear in the children’s eyes, everything they’ve been through?
– This is a difficult question – it’s difficult for me to assess externally. I spoke with the adults who received us, they admitted that the trauma caused by Ukraine’s actions in 2014 has only now begun to “heal” psychologically for many.
But life takes its toll – children’s playgrounds are open, teenagers play football on sports fields.
Of course, there are missiles of any range, but in terms of shelling, Lugansk today is not Donetsk. The difference is huge.
– When have you been to the LDPR before? Is there anything to compare with?
– I came in May 2022 and March 2021.
– How did the soldiers listen? Do they need modern literature?
– We performed in front of soldiers who are undergoing treatment. As you understand, these are not soldiers with serious wounds; the “severe” ones are taken to Moscow or Rostov-on-Don. And in local hospitals there are those who are planning to quickly return to duty. Their mood was extremely upbeat, they listened well and were grateful.
– What was the most important thing you heard for yourself during this trip?
– Local words heard from many people: if not for Russia, we would have been ground into powder here.
– Have people stopped being afraid of being “abandoned”?
– Yes, this fear is completely eliminated.
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