The War Museum hosted a meeting with Afanasii Dermenzhy, an eyewitness to the tragedy that befell the residents of Kherson Oblast in 2023 - the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam by russian occupying forces. Afanasii Dermenzhy shared his personal story of 533 days of life under occupation.
In the past, Afanasii Dermenzhy served as Chief Engineer of Road Construction Department No. 59 and was responsible for building the approaches to the bridges across the Dnipro River near the city of Kherson. It is Dermenzhy whom Kherson residents call the creator of the Antonivka Bridge – the pride of Kherson Oblast. Before the bridge opened in 1985, the only connection between the two banks was by river: many locals still remember travelling by boat to Oleshky or Hola Prystan.
In 2022, during the russian occupation of Kherson, the bridge became a key artery for supplying enemy equipment. Ukrainian forces struck it in order to complicate the logistics of the russian army. According to Afanasii Dermenzhy, FSB officers took him four times to the occupation administration for questioning, asking him to advise them on how to repair the damage to the bridge. He remained firm in his response: “It cannot be restored; heavy equipment will immediately go under water…” In reality, however, he is confident that his creation can be restored. Back in 2018, he wrote the book Prospekt nad Dniprom [Avenue over the Dnipro] — a unique memoir about the specific features of the bridge’s construction and the people who, together with him, made history. Unfortunately, all copies remained under occupation, except for three that the author managed to bring out of occupied Oleshky.
After the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, he and his wife, Mariia, were forced to flee their own home. They spent 45 days in the attic of their house, sharing a single can of food among three — themselves and their beloved Yorkshire terrier. Museum visitors had the opportunity to hear the extraordinary story of a family that survived against all odds — a story of fear and hope, despair and faith. In August 2023, Afanasii and Mariia Dermenzhy managed to leave the occupied territory via the russian federation. They underwent filtration camp and, several days later, were reunited with their family in Kyiv.
The Museum meeting was also attended by residents of Kherson who had lived through these tragic events. Each shared a personal story of pain, loss, and resilience — experiences that have become part of our collective history.
The event was attended by cadets of the Heroes of Kruty Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technologies, who became its engaged and grateful listeners.
Such meetings are not only about testimony. They are about preserving memory, about voices that must not be silenced, and about experiences that shape our understanding of the war today.
The story of the Dermenzhy family is a reminder of the price of human resilience and the power of faith that helps people endure even in the darkest times.
The War Museum and Frontline Robotics Have Signed a Memorandum of Cooperation
The project “One Life – Two Wars” was presented at the symposium “The Most Documented War: A Polyphony of Narratives.”
