“People are crazy. The mind is broken. »

By the time you get there from the capital, you’ll get used to the war scenes: closed gas stations, fortified checkpoints, the wreckage of burnt Russian military vehicles.

Burned tanks, there are some in the Ivanivka region. The corpses of Russian soldiers were reportedly removed just ten days ago. Residents did so, out of fear of illness.

These same residents piled up debris from their homes and offices. The piles are sometimes very neat, the floor often clean. As if cleaning could erase the traces of the past months.

Small mounds that distract, for a moment, from the major projects that still need to be done in this typically very quiet rural region.

Nearly 300 houses were completely destroyed. Everything burned down in the cultural center: the municipal building had almost no windows in its entire facade.

Inside, traces of Russian machine gun bullets were still visible. They dug holes in the walls, broke down wooden doors, pierced the metal, tore the curtains.

Scaryexplanation of an employee with a nervous laugh. So scary! Three weeks of work, living in fear, often hiding in small cellars.

“Hearts are broken”

The departure of the occupiers revealed other anxieties. Valentina Kouznetsova recalled how difficult it was for her to return to the municipal building where she works as the administrator of this municipality which has 17 barangays.

This was the first of all the extent of the damage that terrified him. Most of the tools were gone, as well as computer equipment. Surprisingly, hard drives were left behind.

In one of the bathrooms, the hand dryer attached to the wall was torn. In the mayor’s office, there are only withered green plants.

When the shock ended, residents cleaned up and resumed some of their normal activities. They go back to the farm or to the office. They try to forgetexplanation by Valentina Kouznetsova.

” But they will never forget. It hurts so much. Hearts were broken. Going back to routine, it allows you to change your mind a bit. “

Need help

Dynamic, Inna Michtchenko is one of those who immerse themselves in their activities so as not to think about others. It strictly oversees donations received for the community.

In the white pages of his notebook, he plans everything to be delivered, in equal parts and in the nearest gram, to each resident. A way reminiscent of Soviet practices.

We need medicinehe explained. We also need food, especially food that can be eaten without preparation.

Beside him, a woman sat, staring into space; he seemed stunned, tired. Inna Michtchenko remains patient, lets go. People are crazy. The mind is broken.

She thinks of her grandson who is always sound asleep and the elders.

” Some even lost consciousness. I feel it will take a while to recover. “

Dozens of residents gather in a community hall a little further. The questions merge, the tone rises. people are nervousexplanation of a lady.

Residents also have many questions. Who will pay for the rebuilding of damaged houses? Where can we stay while waiting? And most of all, when are we going to fix the bridge?

This bridge usually makes it possible to quickly reach Chernihiv, another seven kilometers. That’s where we get our stuff, that we’re working on, that we’re having fun. This bridge disappeared along with the rivalry.

To get to Chernihiv, you need to drive 150 kilometers on bad roads. Many people lost their jobs there.explanation of a lady.

“Dreams are forgotten when you wake up”

One of the losers of all guides us to what is left of his house. Some walls still hold; there are debris everywhere, sheet metal, glass. In one corner we guess is the kitchen, the oven skeletons and the sink.

The fire wiped out everything, Antonina Harbuz said with regret. The result of the two -year adjustment is already in the ashes. The scene is heartbreaking.

I was dead inside, sobbed its arrogant mother. The voice dropped, he whispered, admitting that he had allowed himself to cry a few nights in secret. When no one hears.

Five of them live in this house. He, his two children and two grandchildren. Five were left homeless.

Using his finger, he pointed to a room so as not to go there by stepping on broken glassware and bricks. This is the brand new bedroom of the five year old, fully furnished what is bestreminiscent of what the child said a few days ago.

” The little one asked his parents why he was so early in the world. “I had everything and I lost everything. I’d rather be born later so I don’t see what I don’t have anymore.” “

This time, Antonina Harbuz is no longer crying. She wants to stay strong for her children. In the ruins of a beloved home, this mother must admit: not all of this is a bad dream.

Dreams are forgotten when you wake up. What we lived, what we lived there, we will never forget. This is a very, very painful fact.