​Lukashivka is a village on the way between Chernihiv and the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. Like dozens of other settlements on this axis, it was under the occupation of the Russians for more than a month, says Radio Romania Actualità correspondent Ilie Pintja.

The battles for the liberation of the area were intense and prolonged, the Russians even hid in the church in the village, which was destroyed by accurate tank strikes. The village school, which was used as a command post, was completely destroyed, and the Russians warmed themselves by setting students’ desks on fire.

Video: Ili Pintya/RRA

Houses in the village were occupied by Russians who settled in the houses from which local residents fled. Those who remained in the village hid in the basements and came out only to get supplies, fearing to be shot.

Svetlana managed to leave the village half an hour before the arrival of the Russians, while others were not so lucky.

A school destroyed by the Russians. Photo: Ilie Pintea/RRA

A taxi driver who came to pick up his family in Lukashivka died after his car was hit by a tank, and his wife was able to recover and bury her burnt body only three weeks later.

Another 12 people died in the village during the occupation. One of them committed suicide. 16 soldiers settled in Svitlana’s house, who lived there before Ukrainian troops entered the village.

Bombed house. Photo: Ilie Pintea/RRA

“On March 9, 16 people entered our house, one of whom was a sniper and was sitting in the attic all the time. The tortured died in the village, some died from the blow, one hanged himself. There were 12 people in total. In our house, while they were sitting, they made a mess.

When they left, they poured detergent into the well so that we could not use the water. I could wash, but not drink. They lived in almost all the houses of the village,” the woman added.

Traces of war. Photo: Ilie Pintea/RRA

“The owners were locked in the basements. For the first ten days, the world lived in basements, it was impossible to get out of there. They ate everything they could, rummaged everywhere. They scared people.

They took everything they could from us. What they could not take with them, they simply spoiled. From the words of our neighbor, we learned that they were looking for us, because earlier they brought a wounded Ukrainian soldier to our house, whom we cared for.

He stayed with us for a while, after which military doctors took him away and removed three shrapnel from him. They came to us with him and simply asked if they could take him home. I replied, “Of course you can.” It was a guy aged 20-21,” Svitlana also said.

Bombed church. Photo: Ilie Pintea/RRA

“I have a 21-year-old son. How can I tell them that this is not possible, especially since his face was pale and he was losing a lot of blood. My husband gave him milk and honey and, thank God, I saved him. That’s probably why they wanted to go with me,” the woman said.

Following the Russians, Svetlana found a kitten that did not want to leave the house. Ivan baptized him.

Kitten Ivan. Photo: Ilie Pintea/RRA

Not far away, a few streets away, in Iryna’s cellar, Victoria was born, a little girl who was born in an overcrowded shelter with the help of a Russian paramedic called by local residents to provide first aid to her mother, because the village dispensary was destroyed.

Details on this topic can be found here: VIDEO REPORT The story of Victoria, a little girl who was born in a basement during the bombings