The village of Yahidne in the Chernihiv district is one of the participants in an experimental project for the comprehensive reconstruction of settlements affected by russian aggression.
In March 2022 Yahidne was under temporary occupation by russian troops. More than 370 local residents were held hostage in the basement of a school as a “human shield.” During the occupation the settlement’s housing stock and all social infrastructure facilities were significantly damaged.
After the de-occupation of the Chernihiv region in 2022 volunteers carried out basic repairs in Yahidne, so that the villagers could return home.
Since 2023 the Agency for Restoration has been comprehensively rebuilding the settlement. In addition to housing restoration, the project includes repairing the street and road network, constructing a public building with a shelter, building a drinking water pump room and setting up a memorial.
Housing stock
As of early August 2025 work on restoring the housing stock in the village of Yahidne is almost 90% complete. This refers to houses where the owners have transferred the functions of the construction customer to the Service for Restoration in the Chernihiv oblast.
Currently, 72 residential buildings have been restored and 13 are in the final stages of major repairs. Several more houses are undergoing the process of adjusting the project documentation. As part of the major repairs, we are restoring the roof and facade, building the foundation and pavement and replacing windows and doors. The list of works for each building is individual, depending on the extent of the damage.
Four buildings in Yahidne are being completely rebuilt from scratch. At 37, Kosmonavtiv Street and 24, Yabluneva Street the exterior and interior walls have been erected, metal-plastic windows have been installed and the floors have been concreted. Roofing work is currently underway on both buildings. At 25, Yabluneva Street and 29, Kosmonavtiv Street preparatory work is underway for the construction of the foundation.
The new buildings are being constructed according to the parameters of the destroyed ones. The projects include: construction of the foundation, basement, walls, roof, porches, installation of windows and doors, as well as a full range of interior work.
Street and road network
Repairs to the street and road network are 99% complete. This includes asphalting streets, creating a pedestrian zone, installing fences, installing an autonomous lighting network with LED lamps and solar panels on poles and improving the road environment.
Club-library and drinking fountain
The contract has already been signed, the contractor is carrying out preparatory work and will soon begin dismantling the remains of the burned-down cultural center. It will be replaced by a public building with a bomb shelter, which will also house a paramedic and midwife station. A drinking fountain will be installed nearby. Currently, work is underway to drill a well.
Memorial school
A memorial complex will be built on the site of the school where people were held hostage during the occupation. A tender for construction work was announced in June and bids from participants are currently being reviewed.
We plan to complete the restoration of housing and the street and road network in 2025, and in 2026 the construction of a memorial and a club-library.
