DW’s Anna Pshemiska met with residents of the Ukrainian village Velyka Pysarivka on the Russian border- and with former residents, who've fled elsewhere for safety.

Sumy

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

### Ukraine's Border Region Battered after Two Years of Russian Hostility

Velyka Pysarivka, a village located in Ukraine's Sumy region near the Russian border, has been significantly impacted by Russian military actions. Before the conflict intensified in March, approximately 4,000 residents called this village home. According to recent reports, the population has drastically reduced to about 500 people due to the hostilities.

In a span of two weeks during March, the regional government reported that nearly 200 guided bombs were dropped on the community by Russian aircraft. This has led to considerable destruction in Velyka Pysarivka, including damage to local infrastructure such as the administration building, hospitals, and schools. Many residents, including Mikola and his wife Tamara, have chosen to stay despite the danger to take care of elderly family members.

Evacuation efforts have been organized by police and local authorities, with buses available to transport residents away from the dangers of the border villages. Some of these villages have been left completely deserted as a result. In the aftermath, the local government and remaining residents are faced with the daunting task of rebuilding destroyed facilities and recovering from the loss of community projects and ideas that were in progress before the attacks.

Despite the constant threat of further airstrikes, the determination to restore and remain in their homes is strong among those still in Velyka Pysarivka. The mayor of the town, expressing a sentiment of resilience, stated that she does not feel fear in her own home. Meanwhile, evacuees, now sheltered approximately 50 kilometers from the Russian border, share distressing accounts of their experiences under bombardment.

As evacuees transition into temporary accommodations with relatives or in rental housing, the future remains uncertain. It is unclear when, if ever, it will be considered safe for them and others to return to their homes.



Ukraine's border region battered after two years of Russian hostility

The Sumy region, six kilometres from the Russian border. Before the bombardments in March, 4,000 people lived in the village of Velika Piskarivka. Now about 500 are left. The regional government says Russian aircraft dropped nearly 200 guided bombs on the community over two weeks in March. Mikola and his wife Tamara stayed to take care of their elderly parents. My father-in-law said, I was born here, I'm going to die here and that's it. I have to give him food, he can barely stand on his own feet. Police helped evacuate residents from villages near the border, while local authorities organised evacuation buses. Some villages are now completely empty. In Velika Piskarivka, local infrastructure was destroyed. The administration building, the hospitals, schools, workers were just finishing repairs on the library when the shelling started. We had so many projects and ideas, but we didn't have time, we didn't have time to do it. Now I think it will calm down a little bit and we will restore it again. More Russian airstrikes could come at any time. We asked the mayor if she is afraid to stay on and work here. Look, this is my house, this is my home, I'm not afraid at home. This town, about 50 kilometres from the Russian border, now shelters evacuees who tell harrowing stories of Russian bombardments. Everything was flying from the sky, something happened to my ears, I have a noise in my head and cannot hear well, the explosions are really scary, unbearable. I didn't want to leave, I didn't want to, up to the last moment. Shelter residents are supposed to move on to stay with relatives or find rental housing. It's unclear when it will be safe for anyone to return home.

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Ukraine Invasion