A day of life in Brovary: the displaced, humanitarian aid, and sun through the broken roof

The war touched every corner of Ukraine. And while some cities and villages are in the siege, are temporarily under occupation, or around the fighting, others become a shelter for those who managed to escape from the ashes.

Today people are being evacuated from villages and cities around and far beyond the Kyiv region to Brovary in the Kyiv region. It is calmer here than in many places in the Kyiv region. However, the blue sky above the city is far from peaceful.

Rubryka has visited Brovary and we saw firsthand how the displaced people come to the city, how the sorting of humanitarian aid works, and how the consequences of missile strikes look. All this is in the photo report.

In the line for a new life

We get to Brovary together with the refugees from  Rudnytske Village, in the Kyiv region. It was liberated from the invaders only a day ago. It was difficult to evacuate people from the village; over almost three weeks the residents of Rudnytske were forced to live in the basement, hiding from enemy shooting.

The displaced people who managed to escape from occupation or from a hostile fire are registered in the city – the registration allows them to receive assistance from the state.

There are women, children, men, and the old among the displaced. The line in the street goes inside the building; people there help to fill all the necessary documents.

In the line for registration, we meet Anna. Her eyes look tired, but the girl finds the strength to smile. She has been staying in Brovary for some time. She tells that she stopped at a local old woman's house – she did not know her personally. They and a mother with two children were accepted in the new temporary home. Anna says that they were met very well, and when they found out where they came from, they were advised to register for the status of the displaced.

"We left Kherson on February 27, because we understood that the military activity was starting. Back in 2014, we talked about Kherson, that it could be occupied, so we immediately realized that we had to leave," she says. "Now it is impossible to evacuate from there. Russian posts are located there, they simply do not let people out. Now we are waiting for the registration as an internally displaced person to receive money from the state and to receive food, assistance from volunteers."

Anna left Kherson together with her mother. Like many of those who managed to evacuate, she says that part of the family remained in the city: the grandfather and the aunt. They say that Russian channels are already broadcast in the city. Anna explains:

"We ask them not to watch them because they broadcast fake news, people are being 'brainwashed' there. Many people, especially in the villages, have been 'brainwashed' to such a degree that they think that russian ruble was brought to Kherson, and they believe that Kherson will not return to Ukraine, that it will already be a russian city. But a lot of people change their minds. For example, people go to the village and bring information. They explain that everything is not as russians show. That the Ukrainian television broadcasts tell the truth, that now our Ukrainian Armed Forces liberating the cities, that the situation is improving. And russian TV tells the contrary: that russians are already seizing Kyiv.

My grandfather calls me and says that russian TV said there was no bread in Brovary, that Brovary is seized and Kyiv is almost seized. I tell him "What are you saying, I sleep here and go to the store." I tell him that there is absolutely everything here, not only bread but everything: cereals, sugar. All the products are in stores, we have absolute control over the city. We explain to them the situation we have at the moment because they think that Ukraine is almost a russian country."

In recent weeks Kherson has received the title of the hero city of Ukraine and proved that it is Ukrainian. Such a choice was made by its residents. Anna says:

"There are many people in Kherson who defend their rights; they prove that Kherson is Ukraine. Many people, of course, are afraid to go out, because russians start shooting. The people there are not ready to go to russia, yelling 'russia is going to die!' 'Kherson is Ukraine.' They are in the mood that they will be saved, they do not take humanitarian aid [from russia – ed.]. Our family is among those who refuse their help. russia prevents the arrival of products to villages and settlements. They do this in order to bring their 'humanitarian' aid and to make people take it. And not only our family does not take such 'help.'"

Helping our people

Anna says the volunteers provide assistance and food to the displaced. The working process is going at the food storage of sorting humanitarian aid – thanks to this, nobody will remain naked and without anything. Water, oil, cereals, flour, and canned food are being distributed…

And also, the most necessary things, including clothes. Everything is needed, from adult jackets to shoes for children. Many people have gone in a hurry, few have been able to take everything that will be necessary for a life far from home, albeit temporarily.

Scars of war

Although Brovary is safer now than many other cities in the Kyiv region, the war did not pass this city by. On March 12, the enemy rocket got into the food storage.

The destruction is significant. Everything is burnt inside. Only steel structures are standing. Now they are standing like a skeleton, pure and battered.

The rescuers are working on the ground. They are eliminating the consequences of fire and cleaning the area.

A little bit of light

But even among the destruction and war, there is light. The sunshine is very blinding. A smile of a person who probably for the first time in a few weeks sees the blue sky and does not hear the shooting. A helping hand that is just now sorting out the necessary products for those who need them.

That is why Ukrainians can't be defeated. While we have each other, while we are organized, while we are united, Ukraine won't be beaten.