Amidst the carnage and chaos, it’s hard to track death toll figures, let alone get a real picture of individuals among the 2,000 Ukrainians who are said to have been killed in that war, and an unknown number that government officials fear “still under fire.” and debris.” These stories of just ten victims are a tragic snapshot of humanity destroyed by Putin’s barbarism…
1) NATURE WRITER DIE NEAR HUSBAND IN KYIV TANK BATTLE
Irina Tsvila, 52, a writer and mother of five, died fighting off Russian tank attacks while defending the outskirts of Kyiv with her husband Dmitry on the second day of the invasion.
She was the first Ukrainian female officer to die in the war. A veteran of fighting in the Donbas in 2014 against pro-Russian separatists, she was in the National Guard’s rapid reaction brigade after she said she was fighting for her daughters and granddaughters to be “born in a free Ukraine‘.
A teacher by profession, she was also a keen photographer and gardener. Her books include a volume about her favorite rosary and a collection of memoirs from the front line. A friend described her as “incredibly brave and kind”. Another commented on social media that she “loved flowers and life.”
Irina Tsvila (pictured), writer and mother of five, 52, died fighting off Russian tank attacks while defending the outskirts of Kyiv with her husband Dmitry on the second day of the invasion.
2) DEAR ACADEMIC VICTIMS OF THE UNPERMANENT BOMBING OF KHARKOV
Oleg Amosov, 67, was an economist and professor at the Institute of Public Administration at Karazin Kharkiv National University. Last Monday, he was seriously wounded during a brutal shelling of residential areas and died the next day. His university said it was “deeply saddened” by the passing of such an eminent scientist who headed the Department of Economics and Public Finance.
“Eternal memory to all those who died during the offensive of the Russian invaders,” the message says.
Oleg Amosov, 67, (pictured) was an economist and professor at the Institute of Public Administration at Karazin Kharkiv National University. Last Monday, he was seriously wounded during a brutal shelling of residential areas and died the next day.
3) A TALENTED ATHLETE IS CUT DOWN FOR CALCULATION
Yevgeny Malyshev, 19, was an experienced skier who was killed Tuesday while trying to stop the Russian advance on Kharkov.
A member of the Ukrainian youth biathlon team, which competed in the 2020 Youth Olympic Games, gave up skiing two years ago to serve in the army.
Vasily Karlenko, vice-president of the Ukrainian Biathlon Federation, recalled him as “open, honest, friendly and fair with great hopes for the future.”
His girlfriend Ruslana Tkachenko, 19, a biathlete, planned to move in with him in two months.
It’s a very heavy loss – I can’t describe our pain,” she said. “He died as a hero and will forever remain a hero for all of us in our hearts.”
Yevgeny Malyshev, 19, (pictured) was an experienced skier who was killed Tuesday as he tried to stop the Russian advance on Kharkov.
4) MOM GAVE ROCKETS
Katerina Rybak, 29, mother of a one-year-old girl named Lisa, was flattened when her home in Zhytomyr, nearly 100 miles west of Kyiv, was hit by a rocket last Tuesday evening.
“One minute I saw her going into the bedroom, and a minute later there was nothing there,” said her 32-year-old husband, engineer Oleg, who frantically dug through the rubble and found her dead. “Hope she’s in heaven and doing well.”
After the second explosion next to the destroyed house where they lived with her parents, Oleg used the light on his phone to find their daughter. “She didn’t move, but I took her hand and she started crying – it was the most beautiful sound I’ve heard in my life,” he said.
Friends organized a fundraiser, as the family was left with nothing. Katerina was a graduate of the mining department of the Zhytomyr Polytechnic Institute, about which she said: “Our heart is torn from sadness and pity. Beautiful girl, smart girl, rest in peace.”
Katerina Rybak (pictured), 29, the mother of a one-year-old girl named Lisa, was flattened when her home in Zhytomyr, nearly 100 miles west of Kyiv, was hit by a rocket last Tuesday evening.
5) THE GOOD SAMARITAN WHO HELPED 3,500 ORPHANS
Serge Zevlever, 62, was shot dead in Kyiv – reportedly by a Chechen sniper – after he stepped out of a bomb shelter near a high-rise apartment building in the Ukrainian capital where he was staying with his wife and stepson.
He was born in Ukraine, emigrated to Missouri in the United States, and dedicated his life to seeking adoption among American families for Ukrainian orphans, especially children with special needs such as Down syndrome who might otherwise struggle for a good life.
With more than 3,500 orphans placed with families, a dual citizen was trying to complete an adoption when he was murdered.
His daughter, Alice Sander, said: “He knew what would happen if these children were not taken away and given a good home.”
“He fought for these kids, treating each one like his own.”
Serge Zevlever, 62, (pictured) was shot dead in Kyiv – reportedly by a Chechen sniper – after he stepped out of a bomb shelter near a high-rise apartment building in the Ukrainian capital where he was staying with his wife and stepson.
6) A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS KILLED AT HOME WITH MOM
Dmitry Martynenko, 25, last season’s top scorer in the second division Gostomel, was killed along with his mother in a bomb explosion in their apartment building near Kiev. His father survived, while his seven-year-old sister was left to fight for her life with horrific injuries.
He came from a Jewish family and made arrangements to play football in Israel. “He impressed me – he seemed to be a very educated, intelligent and quiet person,” said his Israeli agent Yoav Elimelech. His death was announced on the same day that 21-year-old Vitaly Sapilo, a talented goalkeeper, was killed in an airstrike while serving as a tank commander.
25-year-old Dmitry Martynenko (pictured), last season’s top scorer in the second division of FC Gostomel, was killed along with his mother during a bomb explosion in their apartment building near Kiev.
7) DIE IN SEARCH OF A MEDICINE FOR A DISABLED BROTHER
Marina Fenina, who lived with her daughter and brother in Kharkiv, was killed in a Russian bombardment while delivering supplies. It is believed that she left her hiding place to find medicine for her disabled brother.
A former hotel worker, she joined the monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the only international organization gathering information on both sides of the war, shortly after her arrival in Ukraine eight years ago when the conflict began. with Russia began in the Donbass.
“She was a wonderful person,” said Garik Chilingaryan, a friend and former colleague. “She was helpful, kind and smart. Everyone loved her so much.
The OSCE said that her death was the result of “an unprovoked military operation against Ukraine.”
She was the second member to be killed in Russian violence — an American paramedic was killed in an explosion in Donbas in 2017.
Marina Fenina (pictured), who lived with her daughter and brother in Kharkiv, was killed in a Russian bombardment while delivering supplies.
8) ESCAPE TO THE HOSPITAL ENDED IN DEATH ON THE ROAD
Marina Kalabina, an anesthetist at the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Kyiv, died at the scene when her car was attacked last Tuesday.
She was taking her 14-year-old nephew Arsen to the hospital after he was hit in the head by shrapnel.
In a terrible irony, his family sent him from his home in the suburbs of Kyiv to a village 50 miles away in search of safety, but it ended up in the path of invading Russian troops.
Both were killed and attempts to retrieve their bodies were thwarted by fighting.
One friend remembered Marina as “a woman with a big heart”, while another remembered her ubiquitous smile.
Previously, she worked at a children’s hospital in Krakow, Poland, where a colleague described her as “an extremely sweet and helpful person, eager to expand her medical knowledge.”
“Russian terrorists took the life of a doctor,” Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko wrote on social media. ‘
We won’t forgive you. One parent wrote back: “I can’t hold back my tears because my child needs the help of such people.”
Marina Kalabina, (pictured) an anesthesiologist at the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Kyiv, died at the scene when her car was shot at last Tuesday.
9) ‘TOP GUN’ RETIRED TO FIGHT
Oleksandr Oksanchenko, 53, a world-famous aerobatic pilot and one of the best fighters in the Ukrainian Air Force, was shot down over Kiev in his Su-27 fighter by a Russian missile system in the first 48 hours of the invasion.
The President of the country awarded him the posthumous title of Hero of Ukraine, calling him “one of the best fighter pilots in the world.”
Known by the military alias Gray Wolf, he has delighted airshow audiences with his stunning performances, including at RAF Fairford’s Royal International Air Tattoo in 2017, where he won the best flight display award.
Married with two daughters, he came out of retirement to defend his country, but he paid a high price.
Oleksandr Oksanchenko (pictured), 53, a world-famous aerobatic pilot and one of the Ukrainian Air Force’s “top shooters”, was shot down over Kiev in his Su-27 fighter jet by a Russian missile system in the first 48 hours of flight. invasion
10) Bass player died in action as a reservist
Artem Komar, 23, a translator from Kharkov, a graduate of the city university, died in battles with the territorial defense forces. “In the brutal war unleashed by the Russian aggressor, the warriors of light, our guardian angels, are dying,” the university commented.
He wanted to be an actor and was a keen musician who played bass in the rock band the Airwalkers. In December they played their second concert and were preparing songs for the French competition.
“He loved the bass guitar and played it very well,” said the lead singer of the group, Evgenia, his ex-girlfriend. She added that he “was very smart, very wise.” Everyone loved him.”
Artem Komar, 23 years old (pictured), a translator from Kharkov, a graduate of the city university, died in battles with the Territorial Defense Forces.
Additional reporting: Katya Baklitskaya
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