The most difficult moments of Chernihiv’s occupation and people’s unity that allowed them to survive

After the Russian army failed to quickly capture Chernihiv, the invaders started massive artillery and aerial bombardments of its civilian infrastructure. According to the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), more than 20% of the city’s area suffered from Russian bombardment.

A flat in the residential building belonging to the head of the department of maxillofacial surgery and surgical dentistry, Vladyslava Fryz, was among the destroyed assets. On that day, an aerial bomb dropped by Russians on a residential building in the centre of Chernihiv killed 44 people and left hundreds more homeless.

According to Mrs. Fryz, the most difficult moment of the occupation fell on mid-March when there was no heat, water, or light, and with the bridge blown up, the volunteers could not easily deliver medicines, fuel, and food. But then people inspired each other not to give up.

“I cannot single out someone. At that time, everyone impressed. The unity was impressive. And it gave strength to keep working and fighting.”

Mrs. Fryz also spoke about the most difficult moments of military surgical practice — about a child, all with broken bones, and about the parents’ despair at the loss of the most precious gift.

“This is a horror that we have to live through to put a big end to it, to make sure our descendants will not see it again.”

Unfortunately, such horrors are experienced by residents of many cities and villages of Ukraine, including Kyiv.