She came to collect her diploma: What we know about the medical graduate killed in Kharkiv

Fatima Ilyas qızı Huseynova, a 23-year-old medical university graduate, was killed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv on the afternoon of 29 June, while her friend sustained serious injuries. The two young women had been on their way to a graduation photoshoot.

Source: Kharkiv Today, a local media outlet, with reference to Fatima's friends

Details: Reportedly, Fatima and her friend had been studying remotely and living in their native Azerbaijan since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

They travelled to Ukraine in June this year to collect their diplomas, with the graduation ceremony scheduled for 30 June. The day before, the students had planned a photoshoot and had also collected their graduation gowns to prepare them for the ceremony at home.

"Everyone had already arrived for the photoshoot and was waiting for the two of them. They were happy, they were in a hurry," the students' friends said.

However, instead of meeting their classmates, the future doctors came under Russian attack. Fatima's torn mortarboard was found a few metres from her body, according to Radio Liberty. Her friend was taken to hospital in a critical condition, having suffered burns to 90% of her body.

Kharkiv National Medical University confirmed that Fatima was a sixth-year student at its Faculty of Medicine.

"Fatima was a future doctor who chose the path of serving people. She worked hard to gain knowledge and dreamed of dedicating her life to medicine and saving lives. Bright, kind, sincere, responsible and compassionate – this is how she will forever be remembered by her lecturers, classmates, friends and everyone who knew her.

Her life was cut tragically short by yet another Russian strike, which claimed the life of another innocent young person, depriving her of her future, her profession, her dreams and her plans," the university wrote.

Fizuli Hanbarov, head of the Council of Azerbaijanis of Ukraine, said that the deceased student was a member of the Azerbaijani community.

"Today, together with Fatima's family, loved ones, friends and everyone who knew her, our Azerbaijani community is also mourning. We share this grief and extend our sincere condolences to her family," Hanbarov added.

Background:

• On the afternoon of 29 June, Russian forces struck Kharkiv's Kholodnohirskyi district with a guided aerial bomb. The attack damaged a tram, power lines, more than 15 vehicles, a business premises and houses near the impact site. A 23-year-old woman was killed and 12 other people were injured.
• Yurii Papusha, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office, told Suspilne Kharkiv that one of the injured remains in a serious condition with blast injuries and burns.
• Later that day, Russian forces launched another guided aerial bomb at the same district, but it failed to detonate.

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