Crosses of memory

Installed in the summer 2023 year on the initiative of the head of the Chernihiv City Military Administration, Dmytro Bryzhynskyi. There are five of them in total.

1. Novoselivka village

During the defense of the city of Chernihiv, this sector was defended by the soldiers of the 7th company of the 1st separate Siver tank brigade, 119-of a separate territorial defense brigade, local territorial defense unit, soldiers of the company of the 21st separate rifle battalion and the 134th separate security battalion of the "North" OK.

The basis of the defense was the prevailing height on the road near the village.

Novoselivka village (to 1946 year – Yatsev) is located in 9 km from Chernigov, based 1704 year. Part of the village became part of the regional center and actually became its eastern suburb. Станом на 2022 year population was 766 people.

By mid-March 2022 year, battles were constantly going on in this area of ​​defense, the Russians prevailed in strength and technology and increased the pressure every day. The Ukrainian military held the defense and responded with artillery strikes.

The Russians struck the main blow 16 March, when they managed to knock out the defenders from the first line and capture the heights.

Four Ukrainian soldiers, які загинули, defending the height, the Russians buried him in a mass grave. After the occupiers were expelled, the fighters were identified by their belongings and reburied.

2. Near Epicenter Shopping Center

During the defense of the city of Chernihiv, this sector was defended by soldiers of the 8th company of the 1st separate Siver tank brigade and the 119th separate territorial defense brigade.

The area was very difficult for defense – there is a forest in front of the huge hypermarket building, and to the village of Tovstolis, which the Russians occupied in the first days of the invasion, ravines stretch.

26 February 2022 year, the Russians made an attempt to break through with a tank column, which was reflected. Moreover, a Russian tank was destroyed, and his crew was captured.

28 February 2022 In 2018, the Russians destroyed the Epicenter hypermarket with an artillery strike.

3. Near the ski base

After the fight 16 In March, Ukrainian troops retreated approximately three kilometers in the direction of Chernihiv. Thus, a new line of defense was occupied, which was based on the city cemetery "Yatsevo" and beyond, to the ski base. It was here that further battles broke out.

The official name of the ski base is "Sports Ski Base of the Olympic Reserve of Ukraine". This sports facility was built in 1977 year and was actively used during the championships of Ukraine in biathlon – particular, during the biathlon summer world championships.

22 March 2022 year, the Russians decided to break through the defense in the area of ​​the ski base. This section of the front was held 58 servicemen of the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade — they fought back for several hours, but there were significantly more Russians, so 50 the fighters eventually withdrew, to avoid being surrounded. However, eight remained and hid in the basement.

The commander of the mechanized battalion of the 1st tank brigade organized a rescue mission, by sending BMP-2 and a group of 20 бійців. As soon as the Ukrainian military began to enter the territory, the enemy withdrew. In that battle, it was possible to capture the Tigr armored car and BMP-2. It was the last attempt of the Russians to attack in this direction.

4. Near the Chernihiv regional tube dispensary

The basis of the defense of Chernihiv from the north - from the side of the highway Ripka - Chernihiv - was the company stronghold "Brama". In fact, it was a complex: checkpoint in the gas station area and the building of the Chernihiv Regional Tuberculosis Dispensary, where the personnel of the 1st Rifle Company of the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade was based.

The problem for the defense in this direction was the large number of country cooperatives, through which Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups passed almost without problems.

After the battle 25 February 2022 year in the area of. Khalyavin, the Russian military did not attempt to enter the city from this direction, limited to the control of the key intersection on the bypass road. In the future, combat operations for the "Gates" garrison were limited to artillery shelling, the fight against enemy reconnaissance and sabotage groups and control over the movement of civilians.

5. At the border in the area of ​​Podusivka and Masaniv

The cross was installed at the place of death of a group of border guards, which 28 March 2022 year, were ambushed by an enemy sabotage-reconnaissance group.

In February - March 2022 in 2014, the city of Chernihiv was defended as border guards from the local 105th border detachment named after Volodymyr the Great, as well as the fighters of the 5th border detachment thrown from the Sumy direction.

Photos from open sources were used for publication.

Head of the "Military Historical Museum" branch

Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum named after V. V. Tarnovsky

Mykhailo Zhirokhov