Residents of the northern Ukrainian city endured cold and hunger in the spring, lived without water and electricity. In comparison, it is almost normal today – but the reconstruction of the ruined city will take years.
The rampage of Moscow’s ground forces in the area around Kyiv ended almost six months ago. But while life in the capital is almost back to normal, in Chernihiv there is at most superficial normality. For 40 days, the Russian army besieged the city, 140 kilometers north of the capital. Today a lot of shards and rubble have been swept up, most of the duds have been cleared. But the destruction remains just as visible as the distrust is palpable.