Serhii Kutsenko and his family spent six months under occupation. He met the war in his native Kupiansk. Constant explosions, lack of electricity, water and communication are his memories of the city at that time. The family hardly ever left their shelters. On September 21, 2022, Ukrainian troops liberated Kupiansk, and Serhii’s family was able to leave. The city no longer exists. “My dad, who goes there as a volunteer, says: Kupiansk no longer exists. It’s just ruins,” he says. Serhii’s words are confirmed by official data. At the time of this interview, more than 95% of the city was destroyed or damaged. The infrastructure is broken, and many neighbourhoods have no electricity or water supply. Fighting continues on the outskirts. The population has decreased significantly – most people have left.

Serhii told his story during a holiday in Zakarpattia as part of the Peaceful Rest for Children of Ukraine project from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.