Photo copyright: Reuters
Photo caption, Consequences of the morning shelling of Chernihiv with rockets Article information
- Author, Olena Sydorenko
- Role, Chernihiv, for BBC Ukraine
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April 17, 2024
The alarm signal sounded in Chernihiv at 8:49. In a few minutes, people heard several explosions. A pillar of smoke rose in one of the central districts of the city.
“After the alarm signal, a few minutes later, I received a notification on my phone that there was an “increased threat” in the city, – says local resident Oleksandr. – I didn’t even have time to go out into the corridor, when it started to rain.”
“At first there were two explosions in a row, then 15 seconds later – another one. I still thought then, probably the air defense system was working. There was no blast wave in my area.”
But in half an hour, the representatives of the authorities began to officially report on the “arrivals”.
“The Russians hit Chernigov with three Iskander cruise missiles,” said Vyacheslav Chaus, head of the OVA.
“A flight over social infrastructure facilities. Unfortunately, there are victims,” wrote the acting director of the military at 9:25 a.m. in his telegram. of the city mayor Oleksandr Lomako.
Already at 10:47 he reported the first deaths. The figure was constantly increasing – and now it is known about 18 dead.
Police officer Alina Mykolaets was among the dead.
“Among those killed as a result of Russian shelling is a 25-year-old police lieutenant. The woman lived in a neighboring house, was at home on sick leave. A fatal shrapnel wound,” wrote the Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko.
Photo author, National Police of Ukraine
Photo caption: A policewoman was killed during the attack in Chernihiv. She was not on duty, but at home on sick leave
According to preliminary information, 16 houses were damaged. Most of the windows were blown out in the apartments. The buildings of the hospital and the building of the Chernihiv Polytechnic were also damaged.
“The sister said that the door on the balcony was covered, something fell out. But it’s not critical. In their house on the other side, people’s windows were badly smashed. They live very close to the district hospital,” says librarian Oksana.
At the time of the attack, the woman was at work.
“The windows in our library were shaking. They were shaking a lot,” says Oksana. “My sister’s house seemed to jump up several times, the niece said. She was at home, on her second shift at school. The child was very scared!”
The area where Russian missiles landed today is one of the most affected during the shelling in March 2022.
Then the Russians shelled the district hospital, the police headquarters, many private houses of the locals were damaged.
The author of the photo is Olena Sydorenko
Caption to the photo, These are buildings in Chernihiv that were bombed back in 2022. It also flew to the same area, but on the other side of the street, today
The author of the photo is Olena Sydorenko
Photo caption, District Hospital. Here you can see the results of the shelling in 2022, although the photo was taken in April 2024, a week ago.
The author of the photo is Olena Sydorenko
Photo caption The District Police Department, bombed back in 2022
Chernihiv journalist Viktoriya Sydorova lives near the site of the shelling on April 17.
“At nine o’clock in the morning I was at home, in the Bobrovytsia neighborhood, I decided to drink coffee, I made it for myself, turned on “Breakfast with 1+1″ on my phone, just as a moment of memory began… and suddenly – a loud sound, as loud as the entrance the door was shaking,” says Viktoriya Sydorova.
“I didn’t understand what it was, because I didn’t hear the air alarm signal, I didn’t see the notification on the phone. It was a complete surprise for me. The dog barked in the yard. I stood nearby and listened. And suddenly – another sound, similar to an explosion “.
Only then, says the girl, did she understand what was happening. She grabbed the phone and hid in the bathroom.
“It seemed that it was somewhere nearby. I started calling relatives. Thank God, everyone is safe! I sat in the bathroom for almost an hour, reading correspondence from neighbors. Those on the upper floors saw columns of smoke. My hands were shaking. I recently saw unfinished coffee on the table in the kitchen.”
Another woman from Chernihiv was going to work at the time of the “arrivals”. The woman was passing a public transport stop when clear explosions rang out nearby.
“I sat down, glass fell on me,” says Tatyana. “Then I got up and looked at myself. It was as if she was whole, although the jacket was cut a little by the glass. But those are the little things.”
“I live 800 meters from the place of arrival,” says Oleksiy. “I have a private house, there is no basement. So I didn’t hide anywhere. There was a bang – it rained from the ceiling! I went outside, I looked – in the area of the university – column of smoke”.
Explosions were heard in all districts of the city. Chernihiv residents are actively reporting this on social networks.
Rescuers are working at the scene of the tragedy. They are sorting through rubble, looking for people. At least six people are currently missing.