Floorball player, teacher, schoolgirls and postal workers: stories of people killed in Kyiv on 14 May

A Russian missile struck an apartment building in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district on the night of 13-14 May. Twenty-four people were killed in the attack, including three girls aged 12, 15 and 17. A day of mourning has been declared in the capital on Friday. Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life) collected information about the Kyiv residents killed in the strike.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life)

Details: The attack claimed the life of Yurii Orlov, captain and player of the Kyiv Floorball Club.

Tamuz Khidir, a board member of the Ukrainian Floorball Federation, said Yurii scored the highest number of goals in the Ukrainian championship during the 2022-2023 season. Besides sport, he worked as a rehabilitation therapist.

"Yurii was not just a player – he was a man who lived and breathed floorball, devoted all his energy to the development of the team and left a significant mark on Ukrainian floorball. His dedication, professionalism and humanity will forever remain in the memory of everyone who had the honour of knowing him," the Ukrainian Floorball Federation wrote.

Yurii's girlfriend, Maryna Homeniuk, was also killed in the attack. She taught English at one of the Helen Doron educational centres in Kyiv.

"Maryna was a true polyglot and an exceptionally professional teacher," the centre wrote. "She deeply loved languages, was constantly learning and developing, and generously shared her knowledge with children. For her students, she was not just a teacher – she was someone who inspired, supported and believed in every child. Her lessons were always filled with warmth, attention to detail and genuine care. She knew how to create an atmosphere in which children felt confident, calm and eager to learn."

Among those killed was kindergarten teacher Svitlana Moskalishyna from kindergarten No. 774. Her death was reported by Olha Sharan, whose daughter attended the kindergarten. The woman said children adored Svitlana.

Her granddaughter also died with her.

The missile also killed Mariia, a ninth-grade graduate of Kyiv school No. 237. The girl was 15 years old. Her father and grandmother also died in the strike.

"Our cheerful, gentle, lively girl, who only yesterday was running to school with her backpack, laughing with friends, dreaming of summer, of the future, of who she would become and whom she would love… Mariia, our sunshine… You were so young, so full of life. You simply wanted to live," the school wrote.

Nova Poshta, Ukraine's largest private postal operator, reported the loss of two colleagues. Dmytro Lepskyi worked as an operator at branch No. 52 and died together with his wife Svitlana.

Svitlana worked as a playleader at Kyiv school No. 44.

"Pure-hearted, sincere, extraordinarily decent and incredibly hardworking! Creative, imaginative, talented! Delicate, charming, yet strong-willed and strong in spirit!" the school wrote.

Dmytro Pavelko, 23, worked as an operator at Nova Poshta branch No. 257. He was born in Poltava but lived in Kyiv in recent years.

A teacher named Daryna from the school where Dmytro studied recalled that he was a creative person who loved sculpting with plasticine and drawing.

"Dima used to come to my office and show me the figures he sculpted from plasticine. They were such refined sculptures. It seemed impossible for a fifth-grade child [about 10 years old] to create something like that. But he could. Then he would show me his drawings. They were never typical. Whenever I saw him, I felt surrounded by his warmth and light," Daryna said.

Dmytro's classmates told Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttia that he was extremely talented and deeply devoted to creativity. In recent years, he performed as a drag artist under the name Mystic.

"He created every performance himself: he came up with the concept, sewed the costumes, did the makeup and searched for wigs and image details. He was preparing intensely for this year's Miss Diva competition in June. He chose the acts, planned performances and lived for it. Even when he had no money, he still found a way to create," one of his friends said.

The Kyiv restaurant "Italiiska Redaktsiia" also reported the loss of colleagues. The restaurant's manager Ivan Mohylnyi and florist Ivan Nosko were killed.

"The entire First Line Group family is grieving this loss. They were part of our team – people who made every day brighter. Rest in peace, guys. You will forever remain in our hearts," the restaurant wrote.

The attack also claimed the life of 12-year-old Liubava Yakovlieva, daughter of a fallen serviceman and a sixth-grade pupil at school No. 323.

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