Journalist Mariia Yizhvenko, 29, killed in Russian drone strike on Kyiv business centre

Journalist Mariia Yizhvenko, 29, has been killed in a Russian strike on a business centre in Kyiv. She had only recently left NV Business, the business news section of a Ukrainian media holding company, and was planning to start a family with her husband.

Source: Mariia's husband and combat medic Danylo Yizhvenko; Mariia's former colleague Oleksandra Nekrashchuk

Details: Danylo reported Mariia's death and said they were actively planning their future. At the end of last year, they took out a loan to buy a flat and planned to have a child this winter.

Around two weeks ago, they bought Mariia a car so she could more easily travel around the city with their future child. She had taken two driving lessons to refresh her skills.

"The car burned down. Masha was killed. I lost my friend, my girlfriend, my wife and the mother of my future children, who will now never be born [...]

Masha was a wonderful, intelligent person who cared deeply about Ukraine. She was my voice of reason and the person who always showed me what true care looked like," Danylo wrote.

Oleksandra Nekrashchuk, deputy editor-in-chief of NV Business, said Mariia covered defence tech, Ukraine's IT sector and military technology. Several months ago, she left journalism to pursue a career in the corporate sector.

"She was not just a talented journalist but an incredible person – bright, intelligent and deeply thoughtful [...] She could explain the most complicated things simply and genuinely wanted to help her country. Her kindness and smile will remain in the memory of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her," Nekrashchuk added.

Danylo set up a fundraiser for Mariia's funeral. He said any remaining money will go to the Ukrainian military. Mariia's family will announce the time and place of the farewell later.

Russian forces have attacked Ukraine with almost 300 attack drones of various types since the evening of 24 September. Ukrainian air defences have destroyed 267 drones.

In Kyiv, a Russian drone struck an apartment block in the Pecherskyi district, killing a 14-year-old boy. Debris fell onto a 25-storey residential building in the Solomianskyi district, while another drone struck an office building.

Four people were killed in the strike on the business centre. Two were outside the building at the time. Another person was found dead in a car in the car park and one inside the building.

Daria Kulchytska, who owns a nearby flower shop, told Suspilne Kyiv, a branch of Ukraine's national broadcaster, that she arrived early that morning to inspect damage from the overnight attack. By the time the area was struck again, workers had cleared up and boarded the windows with plywood.

"We were relieved that we'd got off lightly. Then someone called me over to work out where to take the broken glass. I went outside, my partner arrived – and then [there was] this explosion," she said.

Daria was knocked to the ground and her partner was also injured.

"I don't know how I survived because there was a body lying next to me. I went up to a woman – she wasn't breathing. It was horrific on the other side of the road. The person in the car was dead and the guys were pulling her out," she said.

Another eyewitness, Nataliia Potiuk, said there was no information at the time about Russian aerial assets heading towards the district.

"I turned towards the window and saw a Shahed [drone] fly past. A few seconds later, there was already a column of smoke. A lot of people were injured. They were taking people away with shrapnel wounds," she said.

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