Drenched in water he climbs into flames: man who saved residents after Ternopil strike has been found

Journalists in Ternopil have tracked down Volodymyr Kolodii, who rescued residents from a destroyed apartment block on 15 Kvitnia Street during the Russian strike on the night of 18-19 November.

Source: Local news outlet 20 Khvylyn (20 Minutes)

Details: The man helped neighbours escape by propping a ladder against burning balconies. His relatives – his father-in-law Ihor and his wife's sister Oksana – were killed.

Volodymyr's mother-in-law Tetiana phoned him at the moment of the attack, saying: "Save us, we're burning…". When he reached the building, he saw numerous bodies and an apartment block engulfed in flames.

In the apartment on the second floor, where he had until recently lived with his wife and daughter were his relatives: father-in-law Ihor, mother-in-law Tetiana, wife's sister Oksana and 14-year-old niece Anastasiia.

Volodymyr says that emergency workers shouted at him to run because a second strike was possible, but he decided to act.

He doused himself with water, spotted a ladder in the premises of the building by the shattered boiler house and climbed up it. He shouted for people to come out onto their balconies.

Quote: "I couldn't put a ladder to my family's balcony so we put it to the neighbours' instead. We had to save people, anyone at all. Firefighters poured water over me and I started directing people to the balcony. They couldn't get out…

I shouted: 'You must soak yourselves with water, shine a flashlight and come onto the balcony.'"

More details: Soon afterwards, emergency workers placed another ladder against the building. As Volodymyr climbed, firefighters unrolled hoses and men on the street helped.

Quote: "I kept yelling for them to spray the first and second floors, to soak everything and the people too, because the fire's epicentre was right there."

More details: Volodymyr then helped an elderly couple of neighbours down the ladder. His mother-in-law and niece were still inside, waiting for help.

Quote: "I shouted to mum on the phone: 'Throw Nastia out!' She pushed her onto the balcony.

She herself was already halfway outside. One emergency worker reached the balcony. Then they started lowering mum and carrying her down – we and other men caught her. I carried her to the ambulance in my arms and tucked my phone inside my jacket. It was terrifying."

More details: About 30 minutes later another emergency service vehicle with an aerial platform arrived and rescue workers began lifting people from the upper floors. They helped 14-year-old Anastasiia down.

Quote: "I carried her to the ambulance about 60 metres away. People helped me. I gave her artificial respiration and the little one blinked and started breathing. They [the ambulance] took her away."

More details: Volodymyr knew the city council planned to honour him for saving people but told journalists: "That's not what matters now." He asked only for help in finding his relatives' bodies, as his father-in-law Ihor and his wife's sister Oksana could not be identified for a long time. It later emerged that their bodies had been found.

Volodymyr's niece Nastia suffered burns and damage to her trachea, underwent surgery and is now in Lviv. On 20 November, she received skin grafts to her face, thigh and both arms.

Volodymyr's mother-in-law Tetiana remains in the intensive care unit at the emergency hospital.

Quote: "She doesn't know; she knows nothing… She asked her children about their dad. I told her everyone is alive; everything is fine. I can't tell her the truth – she's very emotional. She needs strength to recover."

More details: The family's home was completely destroyed in the strike. Relatives are raising funds for treatment for the survivors and for rebuilding.

Background:

• On the night of 18-19 November, Russia struck an industrial facility and two residential buildings in the Soniashnyi neighbourhood. The attack caused extensive destruction and civilian casualties.
• The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that the apartment buildings in Ternopil were struck by Russian Kh-101 missiles.
• The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reports that as of 22 November, the death toll has risen to 32, including 6 children. Another 94 people have been injured, including 18 children. Thirteen people are still considered missing.

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