Shell of nursery school in Ukrainian village stands as reminder of Russian invasion
In February 2022, Russian forces advanced through the border of Belarus to occupy the village, and force residents into the basement of the school.
Ivan Polhui shows a tiny room in the basement under a primary school in Yahidne where some 400 residents were held hostage by Russian troops in 2022 for a month. 19 people lived in this room. 10 people died during the month they were held in the basement with little food and water. Picture: Orrin Singh/ Eyewitness News
UKRAINE - A three-story primary and nursery school in the rural village of Yahidne, in northern Ukraine, stands as a dark reminder of the first days of Russia's invasion.
In February 2022, Russian forces advanced through the border of Belarus to occupy the village, and force residents into the basement of the school.
Russian forces established a base at the school and held the residents in the village hostage in horrific conditions.
Ten elderly residents died in the month between February and March 2022, while being held in the basement.
Resident, Ivan Polhui said the Russians used the residents as leverage so as not to be attacked.
"They forced us into the basement so that Ukrainian troops will not shoot at us. They used us as live shields. There was a little less than 400 people staying in this basement including senior people and children."