Themes by tag: occupation

Anastasiia Buhera faced the brutal reality of the full-scale Russian invasion alongside her parents in Izium, Kharkiv region. Originally there on vacation from her studies at a Kharkiv university, Anastasiia witnessed firsthand the devastation wrought by the enemy upon the captured city. She meticulously tracked the relentless bombardment, tallying the number of bombs dropped by Russian forces hourly. Every trip for bread was a perilous gamble, as each outing carried the risk of becoming her last. After a harrowing five months under occupation, Anastasiia managed to escape back to government-controlled territory. Upon her return, she received devastating news: her beloved Kostiantyn, who had been defending Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol since February 2022, had been captured by the enemy. Their last conversation took place on April 24, 2022, when Kostiantyn sent her photos and videos, promising his imminent return. Now, Anastasiia waits anxiously for Kostiantyn’s safe return, tirelessly working to keep the plight of those still held captive by Russian forces in the public eye.

• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women

On March 28, the Every Brick Matters event will be held in Irpin, Kyiv region.

To mark the second anniversary of the city’s de-occupation and the start of community reconstruction, the Irpin City Council is gathering all its Ukrainian and international friends and partners for a solemn event to thank them for their contribution to the revival of the hero city.

The invited guests include: officials of the Office of the President, the Cabinet of Ministers, Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, Bucha District State Administration, ambassadors of Irpin’s partner countries, representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, charitable foundations, volunteers, residents of Irpin.

Rostyslav Smirnov, Co-Founder of Dobrobat and a resident of the destroyed residential complex Irpinski Lypky will address the guests with an opening speech (photos of this building went viral in the whole world, and the complex itself became one of the main locations visited by foreign delegations, and is actively undergoing renovation).

In addition, Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn will present a detailed report on the reconstruction of the Irpin community within 2 years.

The guests of the event will receive gratitude from the Irpin City Council and special awards – pieces of original bricks from the destroyed residential complex Irpinski Lypky.

The event requires accreditation.

For reference: on March 28, 2022, Irpin was liberated from the russian invaders by joint actions of the Territorial Defense, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Army, and volunteers. The russian army was stopped while it was trying to approach the capital.

• occupation
• reconstruction
• Kyiv

During the very first days of russian full-scale invasion, Vitalii, a resident of Hostomel, Kyiv region, together with acquaintances organized a remote system for transmitting the coordinates of the russians occupying Hostomel, even though he was outside the city. He collected information on the location and movement of enemy troops online and helped to direct artillery at them. During the occupation of the city, Vitalii recognized the location of the Chechen unit in a video posted on Ramzan Kadyrov’s social media. He sent this information to the Armed Forces of Ukraine so they could destroy it. As a result, Vitalii received a state award.

Journalists can communicate with Vitalii only online.

• occupation
• Kyiv

Yevhen Andrukhov, once a bakery owner in his hometown of Sievierodonetsk (now under occupation), relocated his family to Lviv when full-blown war erupted.

In May 2022, they settled in Bucha, Kyiv region, where the idea to revive their business took shape. Facing financial constraints, Andrukhov applied for a state grant, securing UAH 250,000 to kickstart the venture.

In October 2022, Yevhen Andrukhov and his family, including parents and brother, inaugurated House of Boulangerie, a confectionery and bakery establishment in Bucha. Presently, their offerings include croissants, puffs, cakes, pastries, craft bread, and baguettes. Additionally, Andrukhov has contributed to job creation by hiring two IDPs originating from Sievierodonetsk, his hometown. Reflecting on past challenges, Andrukhov reveals that his bakery in Sievierodonetsk fell victim to theft of expensive Italian equipment during the occupation, with the premises subsequently left in disrepair. 

For reference: The Russian military’s occupation of Sievierodonetsk in Luhansk Oblast on June 25, 2022 left the city, according to then-head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, Serhiy Haidai, devastated, with an estimated 90% destruction rate.

• occupation
• Kyiv

On March 28-29, Irpin, Kyiv region, will host events to mark the second anniversary of the liberation of the city from the russian occupiers. In particular, there will be a memorial service for the fallen Heroes, the presentation of the Book of Memory of the Irpin City Territorial Community, and an awards ceremony to express gratitude to the benefactors for their help in rebuilding the hero city of Irpin “Every Brick Matters.”

In addition, there will be an unveiling ceremony for the “VOLIA” monument.

Journalists can learn more about the time and place of events. Accreditation is required.

For reference: on April 2, 2022, Kyiv region was completely liberated from the russian occupation. By April 6, 2022, the Defense Forces completely liberated Chernihiv region. On April 11, 2022, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced that full control over the state border in Sumy region had been restored.

• casualties
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Enemy Grad MLRS rockets struck Vadym Zherdetskyi’s home in Moshchun, Kyiv region, not once, but twice during the onset of the full-scale invasion. Despite the peril, he bravely rescued his granddaughter from the engulfing flames. Vadym also extended aid to fellow villagers, supplying essential provisions, and fuel, and coordinating the evacuation of hundreds.

Today, Vadym has applied for assistance through a housing reconstruction program to address the devastation wrought upon his home. He has since transitioned to a role in public service. Access to an interview with Vadym requires clearance from the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration.

For reference: Fast forward to April 2, 2022, when Ukraine regained full control over the Kyiv region from Russian occupation, followed by the Chernihiv region liberation by April 6, 2022. By April 11, 2022, then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, proudly announced retaking the state border in the Sumy region.

• casualties
• occupation
• Kyiv

Valentyna Hantseva, a stalwart of the Soldatske village library in Sumy oblast for over three decades, faced the ultimate test of resilience as the invasion broke out. Months before the onslaught, the library had undergone a modern facelift and invested in state-of-the-art equipment. However, the structure crumbled under Russian airstrikes, leaving nothing but the skeletal remains of walls and roofs.

Undeterred by occupation and aerial threats, Valentyna, alongside her husband, embarked on a daring mission to salvage the literary treasures. Amidst the chaos, they meticulously stowed away over 1,000 undamaged books in grain sacks, shielding them from destruction.

The tide turned in April 2022, as Ukrainian forces liberated the village. Generosity from a German philanthropist breathed new life into the ravaged library premises. Last autumn, Valentyna proudly swung open the doors, welcoming readers back to the cherished institution.

For reference: on April 2, 2022, Kyiv region was completely liberated from russian occupation. By April 6, 2022, the Defense Forces fully liberated Chernihiv region. On April 11, 2022, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced that full control over the state border in Sumy region was restored.

• occupation
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• women
• Sumy

Larysa Zahryva devoted 25 years of her life to education. The woman worked as a teacher, and in 2022 she headed the Social Services Center in Chernihiv oblast. With the beginning of the full-scale war, Mykhailo-Kotsiubynske village, where Larysa lived and worked, was occupied. For 37 days, the woman continued going to work and taking care of elderly people who remained in the village. Larysa hid documents from the russians and was at gunpoint five times. The invaders came to her house in the middle of the night and interrogated Larysa’s husband.

After Mykhailo-Kotsiubynske was released, Larysa managed to found the University of the Third Age with the support of the UN Development Program. Currently, several areas of study are available there: the Faculty of Healthy Lifestyle, the Faculty of Philosophy, and the Faculty of Applied Arts. In addition, Larysa created a project to ensure mobile social assistance – a car with volunteers helping residents with house chores that travels around Chernihiv oblast.

For reference: on April 2, 2022, Kyiv region was completely liberated from the russian occupation. By April 6, 2022, the Defense Forces fully liberated Chernihiv region. On April 11, 2022, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced that full control over the state border in Sumy region was also restored.

• occupation
• russian crimes
• women
• Chernihiv

Scientists of the V. V. Tarnovskyi Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum continue to make records of historical artifacts in the village of Yahidne in Chernihiv oblast. (In the spring of 2022, the occupiers kept more than 300 local residents in inhumane conditions for almost a month in the basement of the school).

Specialists have been making trips to the school in Yahidne since September of last year. During this time, they examined and described more than 1,000 artifacts, which include: clothes, shoes, personal belongings, backpacks, books, boxes from enemy dry rations, tubes of antiseptics, russian newspapers, wooden pallets that the prisoners had to sit and sleep on and even plastic water bottles, which people had to use as a toilet. Experts have already finished describing all the rooms in the basement. And now they are still documenting (photographing and making records) artifacts on the territory of the settlement, including: remnants of enemy equipment, uniforms and ammunition boxes. They are also in communication with local residents.

All items studied by the scientists will remain in place. The authorities plan to create a memorial complex in Yahidne, and the school basement, where the prisoners were kept, will be a part of it.

Journalists have the opportunity to learn more and join the trip of the museum’s scientific staff to cover their work.

For reference: The village of Yahidne is located near Chernihiv. At the start of the full-scale invasion, the russians set up a command point in a local school. In its basement, they kept local residents — 299 adults and 67 children — for almost a month. (Almost the entire population of the village). The area of the basement is 197 square meters. Due to the lack of space, people had to sleep sitting up, and they also had trouble breathing. Ten people died then.

In February, the famous American TIME magazine released a cover with the Yahidne village basement.

• casualties
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Chernihiv

Before the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, Maksym Shevchenko worked in car repairs. On February 24, 2022, he was in Irpin. Despite the shelling, he evacuated residents from Bucha, Vorzel, the outskirts of Hostomel and Irpin. Later, the situation got more complicated and hostilities intensified, so he could only evacuate Irpin residents. (He took them to the Romanivka Bridge, which sustained so much damage to the structure that people could only cross it on foot).

Maksym evacuated people with reduced mobility, the elderly and the wounded. Sometimes he had to carry people on his shoulders. During the evacuations, the volunteer saw corpses of the residents who died due to russian shelling. And the volunteer himself came under enemy fire several times.

Maksym filmed what was happening around him on his phone. On March 21, 2022, his own house was destroyed by an enemy strike. Before that, one of his cars had been damaged by an enemy shell. In order to take people out, he had to use the cars of his relatives, friends and ordinary residents.

Maksym continues to volunteer even now. He delivers humanitarian aid to the frontline regions.

Journalists have the opportunity to learn more and communicate with the volunteer in Kyiv region (either in person or online).

For reference: on April 2, 2022, Kyiv region was completely liberated from russian occupation. By April 6, 2022, the Defense Forces fully liberated Chernihiv region. On April 11, 2022, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced that full control over the state border in Sumy region was restored.

• casualties
• occupation
• volunteers
• Kyiv
• evacuation