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Voices of war
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‘I see no path to reconciliation until evil is called evil’

The mass grave at the Temple of St. Andrii the First-Called in Bucha became the last refuge for Ukrainians who suffered from Russian aggression. Currently, an installation on the temple territory has the names of about 500 innocent people killed. How do we overcome discord and hatred? Is it possible to overcome them? We talk with the rector of the temple — Archpriest Andrii Halavin.

Dreams turned to ashes

Valentyna Vdovenko is a resident of the Korolivka village, Kyiv Region. She dreamed of a quiet retirement, growing flowers and relaxing. In early March, the woman and her family found themselves in the epicenter of hostilities and were forced to evacuate. When they returned, neither her house nor her farm were any longer there.

Life is like a horror movie

I used to hear the expression: “Your blood runs cold,” but now I feel what it means. This is how Tetiana Vasylenko, a resident of the village of Stoianka, recalls the first days of a full-scale war. The woman could not evacuate and spent almost a month in a village blocked by Russian troops.

‘We were bombed every day’

Hanna is a resident of the Kherson Region who survived the Russian occupation and the near-complete destruction of her native village. According to the mayor, 80% of the central part of the village was damaged or destroyed. A woman says the Russians bombed her barn and proudly reported that they had blown up an ammunition depot.

‘More than twenty bullets were fired into my car’

Maksym Klymenko is a resident of the village of Velyka Dymerka in the Kyiv Region. When the village was occupied, the man came under fire. Two bullets hit the shoulder, and one hit the head. A Russian drove near, pulled a machine gun, and started shooting through the window. Then he chased Maksym’s car and tried to throw him off the road.

‘With one strike, the plane destroyed six houses...’

Olena Mishchenko is a resident of the Korolivka village in the Kyiv Region. The woman survived bombings, shelling, and murders of loved ones. The Russians destroyed Olena’s house, and she had to bury the dead in her yard.

‘I still have terrible dreams,’ — Bucha City Council Manager

Even now, it is impossible to talk about the atrocities of the Russian military in Bucha without tears. Dmytro Hapchenko, the manager of the affairs of the Bucha City Council, remained in the city throughout the occupation. In an interview with KHPG, he shares his memories and talks about what has been done to return to the townspeople at least a little peace and confidence in the future.

‘We left so that not to hear or see the war’

Before the Russian invasion, Olena lived in Sloviansk with two children and a disabled husband. In April, when the fighting was going on 15 kilometers from the city, the family evacuated to the Lviv Region. After a year and a half of migrant life in Ukraine, they decided to arrange their life abroad.

‘Run forward. If you turn around, we'll shoot you’

Rostyslav Pashynskyi and his fellow traveler were captured when they tried to evacuate from Bucha alone. They were beaten and threatened to cut off their ears and fingers. The Russians simulated shooting his fellow traveler, forcing him to admit he was a lookout. Our report shows how much terror two civilians had to endure and how this story ended.

‘A whole family died in a neighbouring house’ — resident of Sievierodonetsk

A resident of the devastated town describes the first weeks of the war.

‘The military registration and enlistment office said they didn't need my services’

The son of Viktor Petrovych voluntarily joined the National Guard and was wounded near Bakhmut. Vyktor also wanted to defend his homeland, but he was not accepted due to his age. Then the man decided to help to the best of his ability: he prepared Molotov cocktails and knitted camouflage nets.

‘I instantly knew my husband had been killed’

Bucha resident Iryna Solova, along with her husband and grandchildren, hid in a bathhouse from Russian bombings. Her husband saw something burning on the street and decided to go out to help people. Like many civilians in the city, the unarmed pensioner was killed by Russian soldiers for no reason.

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