On 4 February 2026, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 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 emphasized that the consequences of war cannot be fully understood from a distance; therefore, programs for visits by foreign guests typically include trips to the regions.
“The consequences of war must be seen and felt where they are most tangible—by speaking with people and looking them in the eye. That is why, during visits by foreign partners, it is important for us that the program includes travel to the regions,” Andrii Sybiha stressed.
The visit began with a trip to the village of Yahidne of the Ivanivka territorial community, which remained under Russian occupation for nearly a month. In the basement of the local school, Russian forces 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 out of 17 settlements were occupied.
“People who were held in the basement said that the occupiers offered freedom to those who would learn the Russian national anthem. Not a single person did so. This speaks to dignity and inner resilience that cannot be broken even under inhumane conditions,” Andrii Sybiha underlined.
The Head of Ukraine’s foreign policy agency expressed gratitude to Latvia for its contribution to the reconstruction of Yahidne, which serves as an example of recovery.
“We will continue working to mobilize international assistance to address 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 witnessed firsthand how Ukrainian service members counter Russian attacks, including Shahed loitering munitions and other UAVs.
The Minister emphasized that, for diplomats from partner countries, visiting such locations is critically important to understanding the war beyond analytical reports.
“We received up-to-date information on the situation on the battlefield and the needs of our Defence Forces. Ukraine has unique experience and is ready to share it,” he stated.
Andrii Sybiha noted that Ukraine is scaling up its domestic defence production but continues to require further defence support from the Alliance and its member states. These needs were conveyed to the NATO Secretary General.
Within the framework of the visit, the NATO Secretary General also toured a critical infrastructure facility and a State Emergency Service resilience center, as the protection of the energy sector and civilian resilience remains of critical importance.
The final part of the program featured a meeting with school pupils and university students in Chernihiv. Discussions focused on European and Euro-Atlantic integration, formats of cooperation with youth, academic exchanges, Ukraine’s foreign policy, the war, national resilience, and the path toward a just peace.
Andrii Sybiha highlighted the questions raised and the sincere interest in international affairs. “This dialogue clearly demonstrates what Ukraine will look 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 this is a generation of victory—strong and responsible; a generation that will define our state’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. Each time, I am convinced that our strength lies in people, communities, and the partnerships we build together,” Andrii Sybiha concluded.
* according to information published on the website https://mfa.gov.ua/timeline?&type=posts