The 2004 Summit: Putin's Button and Snipers on Rooftops
In June 2004, the northern Ukrainian city of Novhorod-Siverskyi hosted a summit of the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. The event, marked by snipers positioned on the roof of the Slovianskyi Hotel, created a lasting impression. That hotel was built on the site of mass executions from World War II. For years afterward, a myth took hold that the city was safe from harm because of Russian President Vladimir Putin's personal fondness for it.
“Putin said: if you come to my small homeland, I don’t have such a nice place to show you. He really liked it.”
— Nataliia Razumeiko, eyewitness to the events.
The Myth of a Favored City
This visit fostered the illusion that Novhorod-Siverskyi had become Putin's favorite city, which in turn fueled a belief in its protection. However, two decades later, in May 2022, the city came under its first shelling. The turning point in its sense of security came in the fall of 2025, when systematic attacks on civilian infrastructure began. Substations, the police station, and the tax office all became targets.
Oleksandr Seliverstov noted:
“They strike randomly. They try to provoke resistance, discontent with the authorities... After a hit, they spread messages in groups saying, 'Look, the authorities are not protecting you.'”
The situation escalated further with the use of new tactics, including attacks by FPV drones and Shahed drones.
2025: The End of Illusions
By 2025, any illusions of safety for Novhorod-Siverskyi had vanished. The enemy continues to strike the city, and its residents are grappling with the consequences. Nataliia Razumeiko, recalling the tragedies, said:
“I am disgusted to talk about it, but I had to give flowers so that Putin could lay them where the names of the fallen Chaikyntsi are... Now it’s an unpleasant fact in my life.”
The situation in Novhorod-Siverskyi remains tense, and the earlier myth of its invulnerability has proven to be an illusion in the face of the real threats its residents now endure. This information was provided by Suspilne and Glavkom.
The case of Novhorod-Siverskyi illustrates how political visits can shape perceptions of a region's security, but reality can turn out very differently. The illusion of safety created in the past has shattered against the harsh realities of war and aggression that the city and its people face today. This underscores the importance of objectively assessing threats and vulnerabilities in modern conflicts.