'People's Lives in Rubble': Journalist Surveys Scene of Deadly Strike in Chernihiv
A photojournalist captured footage of extensive damage in northern Ukraine’s Chernihiv on April 6, after Russian troops ended their siege of the city.
Footage by Bryce Wilson shows high-rise buildings reduced to rubble. The buildings were targeted in early March. The Chernihiv Regional Administration said at least 47 people were killed in the strike, which Amnesty International said involved several unguided or “dumb” bombs.
On April 6, the local government said there was only partial water, gas and electricity supply. They estimated half the prewar population of 300,000 had fled, and said hundreds of people had been buried in makeshift graves during the bombardment and siege. Credit: Bryce Wilson via Storyful
Video Transcript
BRYCE WILSON: Hey, everybody. Just another streaming video here in Chernihiv with [INAUDIBLE], a colleague and teammate of mine. I want to show you probably one of the-- I'm just going to flip the camera.
From Russians. And then maybe you think this is bad.
- How many people do they say have died in there?
BRYCE WILSON: 30.
- 30 people. There's some burnt cars here.
BRYCE WILSON: So all these buildings are just destroyed. And there were people home. 30 people died in this attack.
Civilians, as well. These are not military targets. And even if you're just in these areas, your homes are still destroyed or so damaged that people living here have to leave.
I'm making a livestream video to Australia. Like, what do you think about what's happening here, or your impressions?
- I don't have any thought about it. You should look at this. You should spend a little bit here in front of this [INAUDIBLE] and think, think, think what's happening? What's going on?
And you should try to answer to yourself on this question, why? It's the main question. Why? It's the 21st century. What's happening in this world? I don't know. I don't know what's there inside of the heads of some people.
BRYCE WILSON: So again, just wanted to show this stuff on livestream. This is only an area liberated from Russian occupation as of two days ago. And this is the sort of destruction that has occurred all over this city as a result of, I guess, Russia's intentions in Ukraine. So. I don't really have much else to add.
People's lives just in rubble. Clothes, furniture, children's toys.
- Someone found a kid's shoe in the rubble.
BRYCE WILSON: Children's footwear.
I don't know. It's pretty confronting.
So this is a town or a city that the Russian military fled only two days ago. Some water and electricity has been restored to some areas, but largely an old fighting position.
All right, I'm going to wrap up there. I appreciate everyone taking the time to watch. I hope this is another part, I guess, of showing you what's going on over here.
