The Russians captured the village of Lukashivka, near Chernihiv, in the first days of the full-scale invasion. From here, both Chernihiv and other settlements were shelled, and an ammunition depot was arranged in the local church.
The occupiers expelled residents from their homes, occupied their yards and kidnapped people.
According to Antonina, the local resident, the Russians visited her neighbors - a young married couple. "He's in his thirties, she's in the same age and they have a child, the son who goes to the third class at school. I don't know what they didn't like, but they took Sasha to their lair. His wife came there up to now, trying to find out what had happened with him. They just smiled and mocked her saying "He'll come soon." But he did not come, maybe, he is already dead”, the woman said.
She noted that residents of Lukashivka have witnessed several times how the Russians shelled themselves with artillery, endangering people. Halyna, her fellow villager, said that once a signal rocket shot saved people.
"They seized my house, and we were sitting in the basement next door. And so, one day, they shelled so hardly that we were ready to say goodbye to our lives. One of them ran out into the street and shot with a red signal rocket. And everything calmed down at once! I started beating him, I said, you bastards shelled yourselves! They had no connection with each other, "Halyna said.
Antonina says she lives near the church, so she saw how the occupiers made an ammunition depot from the church. Chernihiv and other settlements were shelled from here.
“On St. Olexiy holiday, the night before we were liberated, I went to the window, looked at the cross on the church and said: Holy church! Please save us and liberate us from enemies! Just imagine it, the next day they were defeated! Just for the big holiday! ", - a resident of Lukashivka shared her memories.
The church was partially destroyed, the dome and decoration inside were damaged but the residents promised to restore it. Today it has become a local amulet and a landmark.
To remind, on March 31, the General Staff confirmed that the Ukrainian army had liberated from Russian invaders two villages in the Chernihiv region, Sloboda and Lukashivka.