In a boarding school near kyiv, around forty children, one of whose parents was a victim of the conflict, are treating their trauma.
A conflict that never ends. More than two and a half years after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and while Moscow claims significant advances on the front line and bombings from both camps are increasing, these long months of war have left deep scars in Ukrainian society.
In fact, many children find themselves orphans, and are hosted in several boarding schools in the country, which BFMTV was able to visit. In Semypolky, in the kyiv region, there are around forty of them, aged 7 to 15, preparing for the end of year celebrations and writing their Christmas wish lists.
“I wrote to my mom, I wish you a happy new year, money, a long life, and above all to keep your smile,” writes Alexi, 9 years old.
He and his friend Timur come from the town of Butcha, sadly known for the abuses carried out by the Russian army at the start of the conflict. Both lost their father, who was trying to protect the city from the advancing Kremlin soldiers.
All that remains of his former life are things he hastily taken away, including a stuffed toy that resembles his cat Lucas, which he had to leave behind.
“Many parents go to war. If it wasn't for the war, my mother wouldn't have had to sell her apartment, my father would still be there, with a job. It changed my whole life,” says he to BFMTV.
“Psychological distress”
In the dormitories shared by ten children, the trauma of war is never far away. “Two months ago we were playing ball, and right when we kicked it hard against the girls' dormitory, there was a big boom. And actually it wasn't the ball, we understood that it was a drone above us. We had to go to the shelters,” said Igor.
“Fear is something you feel there, here,” adds the latter, pointing to his chest.
According to Oksana, president of the 7Fields association which manages this boarding school, bringing these orphaned children together is necessary for their well-being.
“In their old schools they were often isolated, in psychological distress and out of step with their friends because those who still had their parents had difficulty understanding their pain,” she assures, still on BFMTV.
From the start of the school year in January, new children should arrive at the boarding school. Originally from Zaporizhia, near the front line, they are fleeing the incessant bombings in this area.
