In the suburbs of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, the reconstruction of houses destroyed by the Russian army has not progressed even after more than a year, and many people continue to live as evacuees. Under these circumstances, volunteers from various countries are helping to remove debris.
In the area near Kyiv, heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops approaching the capital in February and March last year destroyed many houses.
Even now, more than a year later, the demolition and removal of damaged houses has not progressed, and rebuilding the lives of people who have lost their homes has become a major issue.
In Khorenka, a village near Kyiv, about 27 volunteers demolished a house on the 50th at the call of Ukrainian civil society groups.
Some of the participants came from the United States, Australia, and other countries, and they picked up scattered bricks and knocked down some of the remaining walls with hammers, carrying out debris one after another.
Hannah Kostova, who lived in the house where the work was carried out, had evacuated the day before the shelling hit and was safe, but is still sheltering at a friend's house in Kyiv, saying, "All my husband's childhood photos were burned, and I want to return here with my family as soon as possible."
A volunteer from the U.S. said, "I have seen a lot of videos of attacks on the front lines, but I learned that this activity has caused great damage in these residential areas, and I want to help as much as possible."