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IOM Helps Microbusinesses in Chernihiv Recover from Rocket Attack
On April 17 this year, a massive rocket struck the centre of Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, killing 18 people and damaging a hospital, a university building, and dozens of private businesses. Shevchenko Street, the epicenter of the attack, shows few visible signs of destruction now, but the pain remains fresh for the business owners whose livelihoods suffered.
On that day, the blast shattered the windows and doors of Liudmyla's beauty salon, the walls cracked, and the ceiling was torn off, and furniture and appliances were damaged.
“It was a Wednesday morning, and it was pure luck that none of the employees were in the salon: someone was at a seminar, someone was on sick leave, and I decided to take a day off to celebrate my child's birthday,” Liudmyla recalls.
Liudmyla has been passionate about hairdressing for a long time and has previously rented premises to work in. In March 2024, her dream came true when she opened her own salon. After a full renovation, she worked for a little over a month before the business had to close due to the attack.
For Liudmyla and her neighbours — owners of small cafes, shops and other businesses — it was critical to resume work as soon as possible after the attack. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), as part of a project funded by the German Government through the German Development Bank KfW, supported 13 microbusinesses with grants for the repair of premises. With the grant, Liudmyla repaired the walls and installed new windows and doors.
In recent weeks, air raid sirens go off almost every hour in Chernihiv, as in most other Ukrainian cities. Liudmyla admits that she is afraid of another missile attack and is very worried about her business:
“There is fear. When I hear a siren, I get very anxious. I would not like to go through it all again. But we opened our business during the active war, so I realize that being afraid is not the answer. We need to keep working and making people happier, even if it’s just with a new hairstyle.”
Photos of the destruction caused by the rocket attack and photos after the repair. Photo: IOM/Yuliia Homonets
Shevchenko Street is a lively and bustling area with Chernihiv Polytechnic University, many cafes, and a nearby park where families like to walk their dogs. Locals love a small coffee shop near the park, often stopping by for a drink and some sweets. This cozy coffee shop was also damaged in the April 17 attack.
Before and after: coffee shop owner Yulia with her Labrador, Zuma, a favorite of the family and visitors. Photo: IOM/Yuliia Homonets
“We had just opened, just finished the renovations. On the morning of the attack, only my husband was here, but he was very cautious and monitored the situation with air raids. He managed to hide behind the bar and survived,” says Yulia, the cafe's owner.
The destruction was too significant to continue operating. The windows and doors were shattered, and the cracked walls made it dangerous to stay inside the cafe. The April tregedy was not the first challenge for Yulia and her husband's business: in August 2023, a Russian missile had already damaged their first coffee shop at another location.
Yulia in a coffee shop. The wall behind the bar was heavily damaged by the attack. Photo: IOM/Yuliia Homonets
“My husband and I started our own business right after the fighting in the region ended and Chernihiv was deoccupied. We invested all the energy, time, and money we had in it with the intention to stay and work in Ukraine. After the first attack, it was hard, after the second one, we felt desperate — but not for long. When we found out that we would receive help, it really encouraged and motivated us,” says Yulia.
Inspired by the support, Yulia dreams of opening another cafe, and then another business and her own production:
“Besides my husband and me, we employ six other people. We pay taxes, we order products from manufacturers in Chernihiv and Kyiv. I have many plans and I am giving myself the green light. It's scary now, but I don't want to miss out on life.”
Daryna and her husband, both dentists, opened their clinic in Chernihiv six months before the full-scale war started. Today, dozens of children and adults come to them for treatment every day. The explosions on April 17 shattered all the windows and the front door of the clinic, damaging the glass parts of the interior and furniture.
Daryna at the entrance and inside the clinic. New doors and windows were installed thanks to IOM's assistance. Photo: IOM/Yuliia Homonets
“Everyone got very scared, but fortunately, no one got injured. And help with the repairs came very quickly: within the first week after the attack, workers were here to take measurements for new windows,” says Daryna.
Microbusinesses in Chernihiv received help within IOM’s project “Livelihoods+”, which promotes the economic integration of IDPs and war-affected people. Funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development through the German Development Bank KfW, the project is being implemented in Sumy, Chernihiv and Kyiv regions, where entrepreneurs will be able to receive grants of up to EUR 20,000 to restart and support their businesses.
