William Molinié (in Ukraine), edited by Gauthier Delomez 2:32 p.m., April 18, 2022
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, thousands of Ukrainians struggle to find their way home, or what remains of it.
The special envoy of Europe 1 William Molinié collected the testimony of inhabitants who decided to return, despite the danger.
REPORT
Despite the bombardments, and the reluctance of the authorities, thousands of Ukrainians find a way to return home to find their home, or what remains of it, in a context that is still just as dangerous after 50 days of Russian invasion in Ukraine.
"You return at your own risk," said a soldier in the village of Moschun, almost wiped off the map northwest of kyiv, the capital.
The special envoy of Europe 1 in Ukraine, William Molinié, met the first Ukrainians who decided to return, in this place where the front line was.
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The village is also not completely cleared, and explosions still ring out.
But the soldiers agree to let the inhabitants pass, who must sign a waiver.
Despite the risks, they want to see the extent of the damage six weeks after fleeing the bombs.
"It was a peaceful town, everyone was happy"
One of them, Yevgueni, discovers his house for the first time, blown up by the explosions.
"I have no word to describe it," says the resident at the microphone of William Molinié.
"Look what happened: it was a peaceful town, everyone was happy here."
His father accompanies him, and lets his tears flow.
"There was my 6-year-old daughter's room," said the father, moved.
"What can I tell him? What can I tell him?"
The special envoy of Europe 1 progresses with the family in this deserted village.
Dogs left without food for a month and a half don't even have the strength to run or bark.
Despite everything, a glimmer of hope: at the bottom of a garden, Youri, an artisan luthier, has just found his work equipment, intact.
"These are traditional musical instruments, the kobza and the bandura. Look, I built them from these drawings," he says.
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This volunteer engaged in territorial defense recounts the very fierce fighting around his small town, located on the front line.
"In the village, about 50 Russians died in the fighting. In the forest, other corpses of Russians were picked up, about 1,500 bodies," says Youri.
In recent weeks, the smell plagued the streets everywhere.
This is the reason why this village took so long to be accessible again.
"The Russians will come back, but we will release them once again, and even a third time! This is my land," says Youri.
On the way back, this village leaves a contrasting image, underlines the special envoy of Europe 1. An image that only war can produce.
In the middle of a field of ruins, a woman squats above her tulips and delicately removes the dust from the young shoots of spring, the only strand of life in this pile of debris.