The village of Iverske, located about 20 kilometers from the front line, for the first time witnessed a mass drone attack on August 25. According to the village head, Yevhen Marshuk, within a 24-hour period two Shahed drone strikes hit a civilian house. In 2023, a missile destroyed the school; restoring the educational facility is currently impossible.
Due to the worsening security situation since early August, about 30 families have left Iverske and two other neighboring villages in the starostvo. The current population of the starostvo is just over a thousand people: locals evacuate, while internally displaced people from more volatile hotspots are arriving.
Today the village has four stores. The nearest pharmacy is five kilometers away, and the hospital is ten kilometers away. It is also worth noting daily life under heightened threat: people support one another, adapt to infrastructure constraints, and continue to meet the basic needs of their families.
The Realities of Everyday Life in Iverske
The role of the community in supporting one another is strengthening: residents seek the necessary services nearby, continue to manage their households, and adhere to rational decisions regarding evacuations and the reception of internally displaced persons. Shelling and the drone threat influence infrastructure development plans, but locals stay calm and are working on reconstruction.
Despite the difficulties, the residents of Iverske continue to build life here and now, relying on mutual support and the desire to return to a normal rhythm of life in the near future. Implementing recovery measures and enhancing safety remain priorities for the region.