The story of the family that suffered as a result of the terrorist attack in Kyiv was shared with Suspilny by Viktoria, a relative of the deceased.
She talked about Uncle Oleksandr and his family, who found themselves at the epicenter of events on the evening of April 18.
“The boy who asks the patrol officers in the video to save not him, but his dad is my godson's son,” Victoria said.
According to her, that evening the family was returning home: Oleksandr, his wife Lesya with her sister Yana, and their son Artem. Oleksandr died on the spot, and a few hours later his wife's sister died in the hospital.
“The family was calmly walking home and couldn't imagine what would be waiting for them outside the house. I still can't believe it happened. We are originally from Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia region. Sasha moved to Kyiv, worked in furniture. We always got together for the holidays,” says Victoria.
Yana died in hospital after a shooting in Kyiv. Collage provided by Suspilny
She also reported that Artem and his mother Lesya are in the hospital. According to the latest data, the woman's condition is stable, and she is planned to be transferred from intensive care.
“Lesya and Alexander were a happy family. The little children – a son and a daughter – were left without a father,” she added.
Victoria has announced a fundraiser to help the family. You can support her by following the link.
How is the condition of the mother and son?
Doctors said that the injured boy is showing positive dynamics. They organized an online meeting for him with his mother, who is also in the hospital with an injury.
“This is a very important moment not only from a medical but also from a psychological point of view. The opportunity not only to see your child for the first time after what you have experienced, but also to make sure that everything is fine with him, gives the family the strength to hold on,” said Tetyana Mostepan, Director of the Kyiv City State Administration's Department of Health.
What is known about the shooting in Kyiv?
In the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv on April 18, a man opened fire on passersby on the street, and then broke into a supermarket, where he held those present hostage.
The attacker was eliminated during the assault on the store. The shooting left six people dead and 14 injured, including a child. The SBU qualifies the shooting of civilians as a terrorist attack.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko ordered an internal investigation into the actions of the police officers, who have already been suspended from duty for the period of the investigation.
This happened after a video was posted on social media showing two police officers running away when they heard gunshots. The head of the Patrol Police Department of Ukraine, Yevhen Zhukov, resigned due to the actions of police officers during the terrorist attack in Kyiv.
On April 20, it became known that the death toll had risen to seven — one of the wounded died in the hospital.
Two officers of the Kyiv patrol police have been charged with negligence of duty with grave consequences for their actions during a terrorist attack in the Holosiivskyi district.