Another child died in the bombing raids in Mariupol: the Russians make no distinction between military and civilian targets. Kateryna Dyachenko, was 11 years old and a promising gymnast, as recalled by her coach Anastasia Meshchanenkova.
Kateryna Dyachenko dreamed of becoming a world famous gymnast. And to represent his country, Ukraine, at the Olympic Games. His dream was shattered by Russian artillery that leveled his house.
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The father also died, while the mother and brother were miraculously saved, although the latter suffered serious injuries. But the two cannot be evacuated from the battered city and are trapped along with thousands of other people. The news of Kateryna’s death brought her coach Anastasia Meshchanenkova with a post on Instagram and a photo of her with the little gymnast. Kateryna wears a medal and a small trophy around her neck: both smile to the future, to more medals to be won. The photo was taken last December, when the war was still far away and Kateryna could still dream. His death caused excitement and outrage from gymnastics organizations around the world.
“I can’t believe it… our Ukrainian colleague shared this terrible tragedy. This wonderfully delicate creature is already an angel, said Bulgarian gymnast Iliana Raeva, President of the National Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics. Rhythmic gymnastics also paid tribute to the young star: “Rest in peace, Katja! The beautiful young gymnast from Mariupol left this world too soon. You are one of the many victims of a senseless war, he wrote on Twitter.
Kateryna’s house collapsed after a direct hit by Russian artillery in Mariupol, the city that has been bombed almost continuously since the first day of the Russian military invasion. Electricity, water, food and heating were cut off by the ongoing bombing raids, which included at least 100,000 people. “Katya had many dreams and an amazing life ahead of her. But he will never be able to perform again. She is dead. She only died because she was on the way of the Russian army that wants to reduce this heroic city of Mariupol to rubble, wrote rhythmic gymnastics judge Lidia Vynogradna in a lengthy post on Instagram.
«She won’t even be buried he continues nobody will be able to visit her in the cemetery. In my mind there is only an image of a little girl locked in a plastic bag and buried in the garden. This is the only way people can be buried today. Is that really conceivable in the 21st century?