poet boris bocharov had hoped the name change would bring new energy to the aging industrial town. >> there's no production here anymore. we thought the new name would attract investors to help us. this building was renovated with aid money. there used to be forums and cultural events held there. reporter: now, the cultural center is surrounded by craters. numerous shells have struck the neighborhood. >> the windows are shattered. my roof came off. i sat in the cellar while it happened. reporter: instead of giving readings of his work, bocharov now volunteers to care for the remaining residents, checking in on them and organizing aid. >> every day i'm in the cellar. in fact we've been in our cellars for eight years. reporter: countless houses in town have been destroyed. three quarters of the population have fled. boris bocharov sent his wife to stay with his daughter in western ukraine. >> you see what's happening. reporter: he himself won't consider leaving. >> as they say, hope is the last to die. i'm on the side of ukraine. i believe the news, and i was born here in this town. i h

poet boris bocharov had hoped the name change would bring new energy to the aging industrial town. >> there's no production here anymore. we thought the new name would attract investors to help us. this building was renovated with aid money. there used to be forums and cultural events held there. reporter: now, the cultural center is surrounded by craters. numerous shells have struck the neighborhood. >> the windows are shattered. my roof came off. i sat in the cellar while it happened. reporter: instead of giving readings of his work, bocharov now volunteers to care for the remaining residents, checking in on them and organizing aid. >> every day i'm in the cellar. in fact we've been in our cellars for eight years. reporter: countless houses in town have been destroyed. three quarters of the population have fled. boris bocharov sent his wife to stay with his daughter in western ukraine. >> you see what's happening. reporter: he himself won't consider leaving. >> as they say, hope is the last to die. i'm on the side of ukraine. i believe the news, and i was born here in this town. i h