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"For some reason, when I lived there, the city seemed so gloomy and gray to me, but now in my memories, it is green and pleasant. Perhaps you start to appreciate something when you lose it... It seems like it was some kind of paradise," says serviceman Ruslan Kladkov.
Ruslan hails from Lysychansk, Luhansk Oblast. To protect his hometown, he donned a military uniform and took up arms. However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces could not hold it. The occupation—the fourth for Lysychansk in the last century—continues to this day.
A big village
Lysychansk is Ruslan's hometown. He was born, grew up, spent his youth, and built his family life there. From a young age, he loved the wild beaches on the Siverskyi Donets River. He would go there with friends to swim and fish. Ruslan also remembers dangerous pastimes. Since it is a mining region, there are many slag heaps, which he loved to climb as a boy.
"The city is located on hills, and when spring comes and the snow melts, many streams flow. When we were little, we would launch matches down those streams. They were like little boats. We would run after them. Those are very warm memories."
The year 1710 is considered the founding year of the city on the right bank of the Siverskyi Donets River. It was then that Zaporozhian Cossacks settled in a place called Lysycha Balka or Lysychyi Bayrak. They controlled the crossing of the Siverskyi Donets on the Kalmius Sakma—one of the three main routes from Crimea to the Muscovite state.
Modern Lysychansk took shape in the mid-1960s. The 2001 census counted nearly 115,000 residents in the city, 30% of whom were Russians.
The city does not stand out for its architecture from the Soviet industrialization period. Therefore, most of the five-story buildings are ordinary "Khrushchevka" apartment buildings.
In certain districts of the city, there was a European influence. As Ruslan Kladkov recalls, there was a "Belgian heritage" in Lysychansk. European investors, interested in this industrial town, built a hospital made of red brick and an entire residential district there in the 19th century. However, the local authorities did not pay attention to preserving the monuments, so Ruslan's last memories of this architecture are of it being neglected.
"Lysychansk, although the second-largest city in Luhansk Oblast, is actually very elongated, so it is divided into several districts. And they are very different, not similar to each other. Each one is like a small village. Everyone knew each other there."
The Kladkov family has two children, aged 14 and 9. They especially loved winter because their parents would take them sledding on the hill.
There, near the Monument to the founding of the first Donbas mine, was a hill where children went sledding: on sleds, inner tubes, or just in their jackets. We also built snowmen there with the kids.Ruslan Kladkov, military serviceman
Ruslan also remembers the Central Park—although small, it was a beautiful and cozy place where he and his family often spent time. He also remembers the fountain on the central square, where young people would gather—sometimes hundreds at a time.
Near the Druzhba cinema, there was a young culture park for skaters and BMX riders. It was built by local entrepreneurs together with community organizations. The local authorities, however, did not pay attention to the youth, Ruslan says; on the contrary, they "put spokes in their wheels." Why? The city was run by pro-Russian forces who only cared about their own interests.
Lysychansk in every home
Lysychansk was called the "Cradle of Donbas" due to the large number of industrial facilities. Among the largest were the Lysychansk Oil Refinery—the second most powerful in Ukraine—and Lysychanskvuhillia—a large coal association with many mines.
Equally significant was the Lysychansk Soda Plant, which produced calcined and caustic soda. At its peak, the plant was considered the second most powerful in Europe.
Lysychansk residents also remember the large glass factory, which produced not only glass but also crystal products, paintings under glass, etc. There was also a liquid gas plant—producing argon, xenon, etc.
We also had a Christmas decorations factory. I know that there are two such factories in Ukraine: one in Lysychansk and one in Lviv. So, in a way, Lysychansk residents were connected to every home in our country.Ruslan Kladkov, military serviceman
Despite the importance of such an industrial center for Ukraine, even before the war, factories and plants were declining, and mines were closing. Under the rule of the Party of Regions in Lysychansk, enterprises were sold to Russia allegedly for investment, but no funds were invested in their development.
When industry began to decline, locals shifted their focus to creating their own small businesses. According to Ruslan, businesses in Lysychansk were actively thriving before the start of the war in 2014.
"There wasn't even a doghouse to rent anywhere – as the saying goes. There were markets, cafeterias, shops. Lysychansk residents traveled to different cities in Ukraine and even to Moscow—they took goods there and brought goods home... People saw that businesses could be profitable."
Ruslan and his wife also had their own business—several cafes and a recreation camp where they rented out barbecue spots. The family lived in abundance, owning two apartments. They had everything they dreamed of.
The fourth occupation
Lysychansk is a Ukrainian city that is perhaps the most familiar with occupation. During World War II, it was captured twice by the German army. The city suffered significant losses—both human and architectural.
In 2014, it was occupied by Russians. A pseudo-referendum for secession from Ukraine was held in the city. The Ukrainian flag flew over the city again after 102 days.
"In 2014, I left because I was pro-Ukrainian. And since the city is small, everyone knew me, and the collaborators immediately started looking for me," said Ruslan Kladkov. He went to Kyiv, where he actively participated in the protests on the Maidan.
Russia's new attempt to capture the industrial town came with the full-scale invasion. To this day, Lysychansk remains under occupation.
On February 23, we were celebrating our daughter's birthday... Everything was as usual. The guests went home, we put the children to bed, cleaned up, and went to sleep. At night, my wife's friend called. From the phone, we heard the sounds of planes and explosions.Ruslan Kladkov, military serviceman
The couple took their children abroad to their grandmother, and they went to serve. Ruslan's wife, Karyna, was already a serving military member—she worked in the military recruitment center. Ruslan joined the Territorial Defense. They were able to see each other again only after half a year.
There were no actual battles for Lysychansk itself because the city is located on dominant heights surrounded by hills. Therefore, the battles took place around the city. Ruslan, as part of the 111th Territorial Defense Brigade, participated in the defense around Lysychansk—defending Chervonopopivka, Kremmina, Voyevodivka, Sievierodonetsk, and Pryvillia.
"There were battles for the Lysychansk Oil Refinery. Those were essentially the battles for Lysychansk. It is located on the outskirts—about 15 km from the city. It's a shame we didn't hold it. It will be very difficult to drive the Russians out from there because there are very good bomb shelters."
Ruslan saw the first destruction of the city with his own eyes. He remembers how artillery fire destroyed the children's cultural center "Budynok Tekhnika." There was also a humanitarian aid center in the basement, where people hid. At the same time, there were no Ukrainian military personnel there who could have been targeted by the Russians to justify their attack, Ruslan asserts.
I felt some emptiness. I understand that it cannot be restored. Many people started dancing there for the first time. Many children performed on stage there for the first time. Newlyweds went there to take photos. It's very, very sad.Ruslan Kladkov, military serviceman
Later, Ruslan managed to get into his apartment when he was helping with the evacuation of the wounded in Lysychansk. He threw everything he saw into one bag. He clearly remembers taking the children's medical records and a flag he had sewn for Euro 2012. He took a final photo and, realizing that he would never return, left the apartment. He didn't lock it so that the door wouldn't be broken down.
Later, through social media, Ruslan found out that high-ranking occupiers had settled in one of his apartments. In the other, an alcoholic neighbor lived there initially, and later the apartment was either destroyed or looted (because Ruslan saw footage where there were no windows left).
Popasna did not hold out. It was completely destroyed, so the city was taken. There were hopes that we would hold Lysychansk because it is on dominant heights, but the onslaught was too great.Ruslan Kladkov, military serviceman
The Armed Forces of Ukraine withdrew from Lysychansk on July 3, 2022—to preserve the lives of the personnel. The then-head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, Serhiy Hayday, noted that the military managed to leave the city without losses and take up more fortified positions.
Since there were no battles in the city itself, Lysychansk suffered the least damage compared to Sievierodonetsk and Rubizhne. Now, some areas are without electricity, light, or water. The detached housing neighborhood and the central part of the city suffer the most.
In addition to the communal infrastructure, part of the multi-story buildings and private houses, as well as a police station, were destroyed in the city. People continue to live in some districts.
All that's left are memories, keys, and a pebble
Ruslan is reminded of his native Lysychansk by the keys to his apartment and a pebble—a piece of marble that once adorned the central fountain. He keeps these mementos and always carries them with him.
My wife is always complaining that I have some junk in my backpack, like a child. But they remind me of Lysychansk—as a memory of that life.Ruslan Kladkov, military serviceman
Ruslan Kladkov continues to serve in the military. In his unit, he deals with legal work—checking the compliance of orders and decrees with legislation and consulting military personnel on various issues. Meanwhile, his wife is responsible for the accounting, issuance, and disposal of ammunition and weapons. They are together almost every day, but they see their children only during vacations.
“We had a small garden at the recreation camp. And my son and I planted some cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers there. We wanted the children to see how vegetables grow and how to harvest them. Now, sometimes my son asks, ‘What happened to our garden?’ He misses home very much.”
Ruslan and Karyna want to return to their hometown of Lysychansk after the victory but are concerned about safety—even if the city is liberated, there will still be many unexploded shells around. Demining could take many years.
The city has great prospects. I think it will remain an industrial center in the future. All the factories and enterprises need to be restored and made into an industrial hub again. People are skilled, and many want to return... There is great hope that it will be so soon.Ruslan Kladkov, military serviceman
This piece is part of the "Destroyed but Unconquered" project, in which we tell the stories of cities completely destroyed and occupied by Russia during the full-scale invasion.