How to help Ukraine rebuild? The question was asked again on November 13 and 14 in Poland, in Warsaw, as part of the “Rebuild Ukraine” forum, devoted to the future of the country. Energy infrastructure, roads, transport, housing… kyiv now estimates material damage at around $500 billion. Entire villages sometimes have to rise from the ashes.
In Yahidne, in northern Ukraine, the lives of some 400 residents are punctuated by work. Dressed in his orange jumpsuit, Serhîî, 22, helps rebuild the village's main street. The asphalt has just been resurfaced and pallets of bricks are stored in the streets. Occupied by the Russians for an entire month at the start of the war, the village of Yahidné was 80% destroyed.
In the street, Volodymyr walks next to his blue bicycle. At 67, he explains that he has been through hell. “They burned seven houses. There was a lot of destruction, especially in this street, over there, near the school. They had set up their headquarters there. And our guys, they were shooting at them”says Volodymyr.
Leaving his house, Serhîî steps over a trench. The houses are being rebuilt, and it is thanks to foreign aid, he explains. “I know it comes from the Baltics – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – but the French are great, too!”he says. Before sliding: “Of course my house was damaged. Look: the windows, the roof…”
He says that when the Ukrainian army liberated the village, the return was not easy. “Either your house is completely razed, or the damage is significant. And those who have nowhere to go ask themselves the question: where to live? How? They were desperate.”
In her office, the village's deputy mayor, Olena Khomenko, explains that she has signed around thirty partnerships with European associations and organizations to obtain, for example, construction equipment. “As we have had massive destruction, of course the aid has not covered all the needs. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to rebuild all the homes”she regrets.
“We are a little ashamed of our government because the aid from our international partners is more visible. It always arrives on time, it is faster and simpler than state aid.”
Olena Khomenko, deputy mayor of Yahidnéat franceinfo
“What is missing most is alternative energy installations to avoid a third year of power cuts in the middle of winter,” she explains.
The village would also like to build shelters to keep residents safe in the event of an alert. But for 200 people, it costs around 500,000 euros, far too expensive for a town which is barely getting back on its feet.
