In 2023, Yahidne became part of a pilot project for the comprehensive reconstruction of settlements affected by russian armed aggression. In addition to rebuilding housing and infrastructure, an important aspect of the project is the preservation of national memory. That is why residents of Yahidne decided to create a memorial on the site of the local school, which had become a place of tragedy.
The winner of the architectural competition for the memorial project was Derbin Arch. According to their design, the school building retains its original form and blends into the natural forest environment. The architects created a visual image of a cube through which water seeps. The corten steel cube symbolizes all the suffering and fear brought by the war. The water represents the tears shed by the people of Yahidne.
Today, the contractor has already started the initial works: clearing the area for the construction of a shelter for visitors to the site.
The memorial building development project includes:
▪ demolition works;
▪ renovation of the existing three-story building to house the memorial complex;
▪ construction of a new civil defense facility;
▪ installation of sidewalks with paving tiles and concrete curbstones;
▪ installation of small architectural forms and portable structures;
▪ installation of tactile paving.
The village of Yahidne in the Chernihiv region has become a symbol of russian war crimes against the civilian population. In March 2022, the occupiers held 370 residents, including 70 children, in the basement of the local school for nearly a month. People lived in inhumane conditions without light, water and air.