DONETSK/KHARKIV Ukraine (Reuters) – Viktor, a senior citizen, lies down in the breakaway east Ukraine and listens out for shelling to determine if he should run. Viktoria Makarova (a managing director of a building company) is teaching herself how to shoot a rifle for an invasion.

Far from the rarefied rounds of diplomacy https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-plays-down-hope-breakthrough-ahead-macron-putin-talks-2022-02-07 aimed at easing soaring East-West tensions over a Russian military build-up, people in Ukraine are trying to get on with their daily lives. They are also prepared for the worst.

Viktor, a resident of Donetsk (the regional center of the two east Ukraine regions where rebels engage in an armed conflict against the Ukrainian army), describes his grim life after retirement.

A pension provided by the Donetsk People’s Republic allows him to live a short distance from the frontline. In practice, he also receives a Ukrainian pension.

From photographs taken in Russia, he spends time creating oil portraits of Russian relatives. Last year, he sold three landscapes as well as two portraits at a mere pennies.

One of your ears rests on the pillow and the other listens out for shelling, so you don’t have to rush to the basement. Viktor said that peace is what we all require. He declined to disclose his surname.

According to Kyiv government officials, 15,000 civilians have died fighting between Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine and Ukrainian forces since 2014. Relations have been strained since Moscow annexed Crimea’s peninsula in 2014.

The Russian presence of more than 100,000 troops in Ukraine is causing concern in both the West and Ukraine. This raises fears about Russia’s plans to invade. Russia has denied this.

Kharkiv is a Ukrainian major city located around 40 km (25 miles), from the Russian border. 44-year old Makarova, who has signed up for self defense courses, is just one of many women signing up.

The Russian-speaker said to Reuters that they aren’t going to abandon Kharkov and run, but instead will learn to defend it.

The weekend she is out practicing with her rifle on a snowy field. These courses are in high demand among civilians.

Igor Pushkarev who was a fighter in the east Ukraine and runs training courses for Kharkiv residents said, “Whenever Russia aggression grows, people’s motivation increases. They obviously want to refresh and learn new skills.”

Svetlana back in rebel-held Donetsk People’s Republic stated that she is resigned to whatever lies ahead.

“Whatever happens will happen. It will start at either home or work. Perhaps we will survive. Where can we go?” We don’t need anyone.”