On 4 February, Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, together with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and with the participation of Head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration Viacheslav Chaus, visited the Chernihiv region.

During the visit, the Minister stressed that the consequences of war cannot truly be grasped from a distance; therefore, programmes for foreign guests usually include trips to the regions.

“The consequences of war must be seen and felt where they are real—by speaking with people and looking them in the eye. That is why, during visits by our foreign partners, it is important for us that the programme includes regional travel,” Andrii Sybiha emphasized.

The visit began with a trip to the village of Yahidne in the Ivanivka territorial community, which had been under Russian occupation for almost a month. In the basement of the local school, Russian troops held hundreds of civilians for 27 days—without water or food, in suffocating and unsanitary conditions. More than 60 percent of the community was destroyed, and 10 of its 17 settlements were occupied.

“People who were held in the basement said that the occupiers offered freedom to anyone who learned the Russian anthem. Not a single person agreed. This speaks to dignity and inner resilience that cannot be broken even in inhuman conditions,” Andrii Sybiha underlined.

The head of Ukraine’s foreign ministry expressed gratitude to Latvia for its contribution to the reconstruction of Yahidne, which stands as an example of recovery.

“We will continue working to mobilize international assistance to overcome the consequences of Russian aggression and to restore life in this and other communities,” the Minister noted.

As part of the visit, Andrii Sybiha and Mark Rutte also visited the 105th Border Guard Detachment named after Prince Volodymyr the Great. They familiarized themselves with its operations, modern border protection technologies, and the use of unmanned systems. They saw firsthand how Ukrainian service members counter Russian attacks, including Shahed drones and other UAVs.

The Minister emphasized that, to understand the war beyond analytical reports, it is critically important for diplomats from partner countries to visit such locations.

“We received up-to-date information on the battlefield situation and the needs of our Defence Forces. Ukraine has unique experience and is ready to share it,” he said.

Andrii Sybiha noted that Ukraine is scaling up its domestic defence production but still requires further defence support from the Alliance and its member states. These needs were conveyed to the NATO Secretary General.

On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Minister expressed gratitude to the service members and handed over three generators to meet the detachment’s needs.

During the visit, the NATO Secretary General also toured a critical infrastructure facility and a State Emergency Service “Point of Invincibility,” as the protection of energy systems and civilian resilience remains critically important.

The programme concluded with a meeting with school pupils and students in Chernihiv. Participants discussed European and Euro-Atlantic integration, formats of engagement with youth, academic exchanges and Ukraine’s foreign policy, the war, our resilience, and the path toward a just peace.

Andrii Sybiha отметил the questions raised and the sincere interest in international affairs. “This dialogue clearly shows what Ukraine will be like tomorrow. It is this generation that will shape the international agenda—within the diplomatic service, public administration, business, the security sector, and civil society. We are doing everything to ensure that it is a generation of victory: strong and responsible, a generation that will define our country’s role in the world,” the Minister emphasized.

“Such trips are not only about solidarity. They are about recognizing the reality of war, gaining a deeper understanding of Ukraine, and sharing responsibility for Europe’s security. And every time I am convinced: our strength lies in people, communities, and the partnerships we build together,” Andrii Sybiha stressed.

During his visit to the Chernihiv region, Minister Andrii Sybiha also visited the Chernihiv Municipal Centralized Library System.

Thanks to an initiative by Tetiana Sybiha and the Association of Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats, one branch of the library—which had been in an аварійний стан and unfit for full operation—received approximately €15,000 for renovation.

“This war has shown that the enemy fears not only our army, but also Ukrainian culture. That is why our task is not merely to rebuild what has been destroyed, but to consistently strengthen these spaces, making them more modern and accessible for communities. Our culture is a force that shapes societal resilience and repels aggression,” the Minister said.

The Foreign Minister also visited the Chernihiv Centre for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Children, which supports children deprived of parental care or facing difficult life circumstances. During the active phase of hostilities, the centre’s premises suffered severe damage from Russian artillery shelling and became unfit for habitation.

Andrii Sybiha discussed priority needs with the administration, as well as mobilizing international assistance for restoration and improving conditions for children. The Minister also presented gifts—small tokens of attention that carry great significance.

“Children are about the future—about the chance for a childhood even in times of war. I am sincerely grateful to our international partners who have already supported this institution. We are working to ensure that our children have decent living conditions and the opportunity to enjoy a happy childhood. The humanitarian dimension of diplomacy is about concrete projects and real change for people,” the Head of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry concluded.

Source: Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine