Danny Wilson and Gorlovka

Let me start by saying that I think that sacking DW would be a seriously short-sighted move, despite the dreadful display last night. Obviously I wasn't there, but I have spoken to people who were and read the comments on here. I'm not going into the ins and outs as to why I don't believe he should be sacked as the topic has been done to death on here.

However, something that has not once been mentioned in the past year is what's happening in Gorlovka, Barnsley's twin town. Gorlovka (or Horlivka as it's often referred to on the news) has been pretty much destroyed during Ukraine's civil war, and is now a battered ghost town.

I have relatives who live not far away from there, and the Ukrainian army have set up camp a mile behind their house. Last night as I was following the match on here, I was also making arrangements to get them out of their home if today's peace talks fail. They have lived in the area for their whole lives, and now aged 55, they will have to make the agonising decision to leave their small farm and animals, all the property they have in the world, in order to possibly save their own lives. It is obvious that if they leave the place, they won't be coming back as it will either be looted or flattened.

Donbass is an area that has far more in common with South Yorkshire than the fact that Gorlovka is twinned with Barnsley and Donetsk is twinned with Sheffield. The coal and steel industry, the warm and welcoming people who speak with a rather odd dialect of their native language and have a passionate love of the simple pleasures in life. People just like you and me. People who live in constant fear of a bomb dropping on their head at any moment. Puts it into perspective, doesn't it?

 

I would "like" your post, but it really isn't something to like.

I hope your relatives get out safely.

 

This is something I just did not know about. I obviously know there are troubles in the Ukraine, but didn't realise whole towns were affected so badly or that Gorlovka was one of them.

During the miners strike a load of kids from Barnsley affected by the strike were taken on a trip to the old Soviet Union. Does anyone know if that was Gorlovka?

 

It does, old mate.

 

Hope they get out mate.

 

Yes, it definitely was. Some schools retained links until much more recently, as I run into people from time to time of my age who participated in exchanges and cultural events. Gorlovka has been one of the worst affected places, but the English news usually spells it "Horlivka", which is the Ukrainian name - hence I guess why it's slipped under the radar for a lot of people.

 

It's a massive decision as they can still feasibly escape now, but if they do then they've almost certainly lost their property. Agonising. The shooting might stop today, or it might escalate into something far worse. Donetsk has already been blockaded so nobody can get out at all.

 

Best wishes to your relatives MT, I hope everything turns out well for them.

 

What a truly awful position to be in.

 

Thanks to everyone for your kind words. Thursday's very tenuous "ceasefire" deal gives us a bit of hope at least, though the Donbass area is now so dysfunctional that our rels are still thinking of getting out. Wherever they decide to go, of course everyone is hoping against hope that the peace deal sticks.

By the way, the relationship with Barnsley is still hugely treasured in Gorlovka. There's a restaurant named after the town, and the Russian language BFC fans group is run by a guy from there. He religiously posts all our highlights, news, fixtures etc on the Russian version of Facebook.

 

i thought Barnsley was twinned with Schwabich Gmund (or summat like that spelling)

 

That's the Germany twin.
Wasn't there a Russian cosmonaut from Gorlovka? I seem to remember him in the space station with a little "Barnsley Sam" doll he was given by the chronicle. I remember on the news somebody asking him what the little doll was that was floating about and he proudly said it was his little Barnsley Sam. Not sure on this but didn't he visit some of our schools?

 

Indeed there is. Never knew that!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Alexandrovich_Volkov_(cosmonaut)

 

I doubt I'm the only one who simply didn't have a clue about any of this. As Gorlovka is our twin town, I think we have a certain amount of responsibility. Do you fancy contacting the Chronicle mate and giving them an insight in to what is happening? I would imagine they're as much in the dark about the situation as I am. I believe a lot of people in our town would want to know about the situation and even provide some form of help if they are able.

 

Sorry to her about all this John. Like Jay says above you could think about the Chronicle route I'm sure people would like to know and help in whatever way we can.

 

Another bit here..

https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/leisure-and-culture/tourism-and-travel/town-twinning

 

I really hope they are ok

No angle intended but wound any of this **** have happened as the USSR?

 

I've been thinking about it, and about doing an article for WSB. I was planning on contacting Dyson this weekend about it. There are however some quite serious ins and outs, not least the fact that Gorlovka is currently under the control of a group of people, who are if you believe a lot of the media reports, little more than a terrorist group backed by factions in the Russian government. So whilst I would like to think that any money / food / essentials sent would get to the right people, I feel there's a really strong chance it would be misappropriated and disappear into very much the wrong pockets. Sorry that this is a bit of a rushed response, I'm on my way out the door now, back later / tomorrow.

 

As Khruschev gave Crimea to Ukraine as a present from Russia during Soviet times and no-one battered an eyelid, we can safely assume that it would never have happened during the USSR era.

 

Very simple question without an easy answer but WTF is going off and why?