Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Merefa community in the Kharkiv region had a population of 26,000. Today there are about 33-34 thousand people in the community.

The head of the Merefa community Veniamin Sitov told about it on the air of “Ukrainian Radio Kharkiv”.

“Some of the [residents] left us, but they filled in this part and added – these are temporarily displaced persons who have officially registered. We have 6,000 such people,” Sitov said.

Some migrants refuse to register officially.

According to Sitov, residents of Kharkiv, Derhachi, Vilkhivka and the temporarily occupied territories came to the Merefa community. Now there is a question with employment of migrants.

“Today there is a problem with work. We have a lot of displaced people and many today, people who came here from Kharkiv, Dergachi, Vilkhivka, Rogan, from the occupied territories, people are unemployed today,” Sitov said.

Transport and preparation for winter

The head of the community said that today the bus service with Kharkiv and Buda has been restored. Within the community, transport began operating two weeks after the Russian invasion.

“Everything has been restored here. Minibuses go to Kharkiv, to Bud, to Berezivka. A minibus goes from Zmiiv district [now Chuhuiv district] through Merefa to Kharkiv. People have become more comfortable,” says Sitov.

The community is preparing for winter: forming a reserve of food, fuel and lubricants, firewood.

Russian strikes on the community

Sitov said that during the last week, Russian occupation forces fired on the community four times, targeting critical infrastructure. Two Russian missiles shot down by air defense.

As a result of the shelling, the homes of civilians were damaged.

“All these arrivals destroyed civilians, houses – roofs, windows,” – said Sitov.