The situation in Svitlogirsk
The village of Svitlogirsk in the Poltava region has become a shelter for nearly 600 internally displaced persons (IDPs). At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the community accepted over a thousand people who were forced to leave their homes due to hostilities. The local authorities provide housing for the displaced by placing them in empty houses, and some houses are rented out.
Among those who moved to Svitlogirsk is the Mushchir family from Mezova in Dnipropetrovsk region. They left under shelling, finding themselves ten kilometers from the front line.
“It was impossible to go outside. They were shooting at cars, at civilians – they don't distinguish,” noted Iryna Mushchir.During the evacuation, the family brought their chickens and dog in one cage, traveling 300 kilometers in search of safety. Currently, over 600 IDPs live in Svitlogirsk, more than 350 of whom maintain regular contact with local authorities. Most of the displaced are pensioners and families with children, including over 50 displaced children.
Displaced persons and their adaptation
Among other displaced persons is Serhiy Alfiyev, who fled from war twice: in 2014 from Yasynuvata to Kharkiv, and in 2022 to Svitlogirsk.
“It’s already the third year that I have lived here, and it seems to me that I have lived here longer, it has already become familiar, I have many acquaintances now, and I like it here,” shared his thoughts Alfiyev.
People from the following regions moved to Svitlogirsk:
- Kharkiv region
- Donetsk region
- Luhansk region
- Kherson region
- Dnipropetrovsk region
The local community is doing everything possible to help IDPs adapt to the new conditions. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is also implementing a financial support mechanism for citizens forced to change their place of residence due to emergencies. The program provides for one-time interest-free loans for settling in a new place.
The mayor of Kharkiv, head of the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities Ihor Terekhov proposed to initiate the establishment of an IDP Day at the state level, emphasizing the importance of supporting people who have experienced war and were forced to leave their homes.
This situation in Svitlogirsk demonstrates how communities in Ukraine respond to the challenges of internal migration amid war. Supporting IDPs, both at the local and state levels, is an important component in the process of adapting people who find themselves in difficult circumstances. Initiatives like IDP Day highlight the need to recognize and support those affected by the conflict.