The city of Chernihiv — a northern fortress that was among the first to hold back Russian troops at the start of the full-scale invasion — is once again taking the удар upon itself. Local residents do not dwell on the idea of a “difficult winter” — they are preparing for the worst-case scenario. The memory of the spring of 2022, when the city found itself under siege without electricity, water, or heat, has not faded. It lingers in cracked facades, in damp basements, in wary glances.
Now the danger returns with a different echo — the dull buzzing of drones in the darkness. The energy system is under attack again, and each strike turns into darkened stairwells, cold radiators, and long hours of waiting. Repair crews work without pause, yet the war often outpaces their efforts.
In their homes, residents stockpile water in advance, ready generators, and pull out warm blankets. The “Points of Invincibility” are not only places of light and heat, but spaces of human solidarity — where phones are charged, hands are warmed, and people hold on to one another for warmth and strength.
