Yahidne, Chernihiv Oblast

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the village was occupied by Russian forces who looted and destroyed much of it.^[2]

Inhabitants reported how during the Russian occupation of the village, soldiers forced more than 300 residents, of whom approximately sixty were children,^[3] into the basement of a school at gunpoint, where they were held against their will from 5 March to 1 April that year.^[2][4]

Seven villagers were reportedly executed by Russian soldiers and ten people died due to the poor conditions in the basement. Reuters and al Jazeera have stated that, in total, at least twenty people have been killed or died; however, no official death toll has been published.^[3][5] The journalist Roman Nezhyborets was among those who were executed by Russian soldiers.^[6]

In the beginning of April 2022, Russian forces withdrew from the village as part of the coordinated regional withdrawal from northern Ukraine.^[4]

In November 2024, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited the school basement and commented on the inhumanity of the Russian occupation.^[7]