on the Russian-Ukrainian border, refugees confide in the last border post still open

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, many civilians have fled the occupied areas. Once past the border post, they are taken to an accommodation center.

A door slams, and it’s the sound of freedom for these passengers in a minibus. In Ukraine, in the Sumy region, there is still an open border crossing between Russia and Ukraine, even though Moscow launched its offensive almost two years ago. There are few crossings, but it is through here that Ukrainians who leave the occupied territories can exit, and thus join sovereign Ukraine.

After a grueling journey to leave occupied areas, such as the town of Krynky, opposite Kherson, on the other bank of the river, the ten occupants of this minibus have just passed the Russian border post, then walked two kilometers on a snowy road, and, finally, reach Ukraine. Valentina is 75 years old, only one bag and mourning her husband, who died three weeks ago in a bombing: “I left five days ago. I made this trip by car with other people. At one point, we drove over a mine. There were also people, a group of six people, who are left a week ago. They walked and put the luggage on bikes.”

“Those who confide in us tell us about their pain”

The identities of each person crossing this border post are verified by the intelligence services, during a procedure that can last hours. They are then taken to an accommodation center. Oksanna and her 12-year-old daughter Sofia come from the occupied town of Enerhodar. At school, there were only two Ukrainian children left in his class. The others left and Russian children arrived. Oksanna can no longer stand this life: “Everything has completely changed. Before, it was a festive and bright city. Now, it’s a lost hole. It’s sad, dull, gray…”

“Before, you went out into the street, there were children playing, people were walking around, faces were smiling. Now, you go out around 5 p.m., you only see soldiers. There is no joy. “

Iulia, the crisis psychologist, comes into the rooms to introduce herself and listen. “Those who confide, tell us about their pain. They need to get it out quickly. Then it’s over, they keep silentshe specifies. But there are those who won’t stop talking. We saw a man who was inexhaustible, he told us that it had been a year and a half since he had spoken to anyone!”

Nearly 20,000 people have passed through this center over the past year. New Ukrainian residents spend one night there. The next day at dawn, they took a train to reach kyiv.