Housing rental in Donbas costs as much as in Kyiv: why soldiers pay tens of thousands.

According to inkorr.com: In Donbas, housing rental has reached prices comparable to those in the capital. Even abandoned houses in frontline cities and villages have proven to be very expensive for soldiers, who are forced to spend tens of thousands of hryvnias a month. Soldiers share their difficulties in finding housing, which often becomes part of their expenses. This is discussed in the article 'Give a house to a soldier! The housing market near the front line is experiencing a boom.'

Unusual housing prices

High housing prices have become a common phenomenon in Donbas, as well as throughout the frontline strip of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions and the right bank of Kherson.

"Apartments in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk (that's Slavyansk and Kramatorsk in army jargon, 'Glavkom') have been expensive in recent years, and now, after the scum have destroyed or made Pokrovsk, Konstantynivka, and Dobrіpillі uninhabitable, the demand has increased even more, housing is more scarce, and thus even more expensive," explains Oleksandr B., a soldier from one of the brigades who has been fighting in Donetsk for two years.

According to the soldier, in Slavyansk, the rental of an apartment with basic repairs and furniture starts from 10 thousand UAH per month. A two- or three-room apartment with furniture, a boiler, and what is known as euro-repair can cost up to 20 thousand. The most accessible option is a room in a 'guesthouse' with a small kitchen for 6 thousand UAH, but without a toilet; the bathroom is at the end of the corridor.

Houses in neighboring villages have also seen a significant price increase. For the opportunity to live in a large brick house from the 1980s, which has water supply, owners demand from 20 to 30 thousand UAH per month. Often such houses accommodate entire units - 8-10 soldiers or 'squadrons' of drone operators; the payment is divided proportionally, which makes living conditions relatively affordable.

Thus, housing prices in Donbas have approached capital levels, complicating the search for decent housing for soldiers. Frontline cities and villages are experiencing a real boom in real estate prices, forcing soldiers to spend significant amounts on renting housing that is often uncomfortable. The housing situation has become scarce and too expensive, forcing soldiers to spend a significant portion of their salaries to ensure decent living conditions.

This situation exacerbates the challenges faced by soldiers serving in the difficult conditions of war. High housing prices not only burden their finances but also create additional difficulties in daily life, as comfort and safety remain important conditions for fulfilling their duties.