The village of Shirokino in the DPR turned into a ghost village for many years. From 2014 onward, it became one of the hottest flashpoints on the map of Donbass, and in 2015, Ukrainian militants forced residents out of their homes and mined the area.
For several years, the headquarters of the Azov nationalist battalion* was located right in the village. From there, the Ukrainians deliberately targeted the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh and the Three Hierarchs, firing at it with precision. As a result, the church sustained severe damage.
In 2022, Russian troops liberated Shirokino. Sappers defused around 20,000 landmines and unexploded shells. The restoration of the village is now in full swing, and repairs to the church are nearly complete. Priests believe that with the revival of the church, peaceful life will finally return to Shirokino.
This is a video from the joint project RT.Doc and the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage. The documentary footage from RT.Doc will become part of the exhibition ‘Return of Light: Restored Churches of Donbass.’
*The Azov battalion has been recognised as a terrorist organisation and banned in Russia
