and a fearful atmosphere characterize Savyntsi village a year after it was liberated
Victoria Zaritska does her best to bring the local community together and organize cultural activities for the residents
"People were so depressed," Victoria recalls her return to the settlement after Ukraine regained control
"Only now we are returning to our usual living."
the head of the Savyntsi settlement council's Department of Culture
told us was how happy she was that the roof above the local music school would be restored because they had finally found donors
Russia occupied Savyntsi village in Kharkiv Oblast for six months
No one expected the 'guests' to stay for so long
But when the shelling became constant and the roof of her neighbors' house burned down
I tried to keep everything under control from afar: I asked friends to hide all equipment
including our computers and music equipment
People risked their lives and kept it all in the basements or in the attics
Russia established its own cultural department
The liberation of Savyntsi happened just in time
because the occupants were unable to carry out most of their plans
including confiscating all books in Ukrainian
just 2 of the 15 cultural establishments have been restored
such as the Zalyman village House of Culture
many people are still unemployed as their previous place of work no longer exists
"We couldn't move freely because the area was riddled with mines
we initially established a volunteer center in the Savyntsi House of Culture
and created thermal heaters that create heat using oxygen."
This helped residents band together and alleviate their collective stress
more than 50 women joined the occasional handicraft club
which eventually led to the formation of the volunteer group called "Berehynia"
The same location has become critical for children's leisure time because they are unable to attend kindergarten
We try to provide children with the opportunity to communicate with each other through creating something together
We encourage them to meet for at least half an hour every day just to have something to look forward to
This is our way of engaging the public and assisting our people in overcoming depression
The cultural life of Ukrainian villages isn't something conspicuous in the global arena
it serves another purpose - not representative
Locals who know each other gather to play or listen to their children play music
read the same books from the local library
and help each other with humanitarian needs since the war began
Victoria recognizes that the liberation of Savyntsi didn't move the village much farther from the frontlines
she does not prioritize culture over other people's basic needs
she seizes every opportunity to integrate culture into the daily life of the settlement
this war is about more than just territory; it is also about preserving our country's culture
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A robbed school and military posts made out of its furniture
and half of the housing stock rendered uninhabitable -- this is the reality of the Savyntsi settlement
which is considered "almost not ruined."
this epithet only applies when comparing Savyntsi village to other settlements in the united territorial community
the head of the Savyntsi military administration
Dovhalivka and Zalyman suffered the worst destruction as the frontline passed through
Over a hundred buildings were totally destroyed in Zalyman alone
It was the end of December 2022 when Oksana was appointed chief of the Savyntsi military administration by presidential decree
Even though the settlement was already free of occupation at the time
there was still enough damage to contend with
didn't stop occupational authorities from reigning from Balaklia
They also established a cultural department here
none of its employees were culturally aware
Those were personas who smelled power they'd never had before
I am glad that most local cultural workers did not agree to cooperate with them," Oksana says
knowing that there were locals who sincerely collaborated with the enemy
as well as those who couldn't leave while it was still possible
and people could pass through Russian checkpoints
and the occupiers refused to let anyone leave
taking only her dog and passport as the newcomers were looking for her
she had a history of serving among Balaklia authorities
Only the markets remained open in the occupied settlements from March to September 2022
before the territorial community's liberation
There were no pharmacies or grocery stores nearby
but the manner in which it was delivered terrified some locals
"You couldn't refuse to take aid from them because it would mean that you have something else
Some Ukrainians didn't take the aid out of principle and suffered as a result."
Now that everything is working again and essentials are provided
people continue to live with a heavy heart
"Many people have been tortured and disappeared in both Savyntsi and Balaklia
over 400 people have passed through the Balaklia torture chamber
while unofficial sources claim the number exceeds 1,000," says Oksana
She personally is actively involved in the search
familiar with the pain of loss as her cousin Maxym was tortured to death
He was a lawyer and a person with strong pro-Ukrainian views
The body was buried in a closed coffin without the family even seeing it
the lack of mass burials in the settlements gives hope that some of the missing may be found
"Parents are still looking for their children
We also appealed to the International Red Cross for help locating those who had disappeared."
The good news is that while the searches continue
When the Savyntsi united territorial community was liberated
Many more are waiting for the war to end so they can return home
Oksana speaks calmly of the war's devastation
focusing on the future instead of dwelling on the past
but it does remark once again on the strength of a human soul
the draw for the first preliminary round of the Vbet Ukrainian Cup 2024/2025 season will take place at the House of Football
The draw will be broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the Ukrainian Association of Football
The first preliminary round will feature 32 teams: 17 from the First League (Epiсentr (Kamianets-Podilskyi)/Mynai (Mynai)
Livyi Bereh (Kyiv)/Metalist 1925 (Kharkiv)
13 from the Second League (Skala 1911 (Stryi)
Trostianets (Trostianets)) and two representatives from the Association of Amateur Football (Olimpiya (Savyntsi) and Mykolaiv (Mykolaiv
The first preliminary round matches are scheduled for August 3
The final match of the Ukrainian Cup 2024/2025 season is planned for May 14
The host city for the final will be determined by the UAF Executive Committee