Grandmother and granddaughter killed by Russia in Kyiv home where three generations grew up

Yevheniia, 45, and her 94-year-old grandmother Mariia were killed in a Russian drone strike on a house in Kyiv on 30 September. The evening before the attack, Mariia took medication because she was worried about a possible missile strike.

Source: Yuliia Haharina, a relative of Yevheniia and Mariia, chemist and founder of the Laborantki scientific and creative association, on Facebook

Details: A Russian Shahed drone detonated in the bedrooms of the house where three generations of the family had grown up.

The evening before yet another Russian attack, Yevheniia, an aunt of Yuliia's, turned on the gas boiler and gave Mariia her medication. That evening, Mariia felt anxious after warnings of a possible missile strike.

At about 03:00, the family heard the sounds of an aerial attack. A Russian drone later struck their home, where the three women were staying. Only Yehor, a nephew of Yuliia's, was not at home: he had gone to a friend's house for a sleepover.

Quote from Yuliia: "Businka [Yevheniia's beloved dog – ed.] was hiding on grandma's bed. My aunt texted everyone for the usual roll call: 'How are you?', saw the replies and went to the toilet. She came out and the next thing she saw was a brick wall flying at her.

The Shahed detonated literally in Zhenia's [short for Yevheniia – ed.] and grandma's bedrooms. The bricks were scattered like Lego, you couldn't see the ground under them at all. The beautiful wooden ceilings, which our grandfathers were so proud of, caught fire, and the fire was still being put out the next day."

Details: Yuliia said the family home, damaged by the Russian strike, was built in the 1950s by her two grandfathers, who were brothers.

Quote from Yuliia: "They put it together from bricks, wood and, as they used to say, 'from bottles of vodka', which they gave in exchange for building materials."

Details: She says everyone lived peacefully in the house for the most part, recalling a funny childhood incident with her cousin Zhenia as an example of "discord".

Quote from Yuliia: "I was about seven years old. I ran to my aunt in the kitchen, shouting: 'Zhenia hit me right in the heart with a pig!' The 'pig' was a rubber baby doll that she threw at me. The adults told this story at family dinners for a long time."

Details: Her grandmother was the oldest resident on the street, where she helped locals as a family doctor. The woman left her profession after she turned 70 to take care of her great-granddaughter, and later her grandson Yehor.

On the evening of 29 September, Mariia had everyday worries: she was anxious that she might not have time to plant garlic before the cold weather set in. She did not dare to do it herself, fearing she would get into trouble with her relatives.

The family was worried that Mariia might fall again and break her hip. This had already happened a month before the full-scale war began. After a successful operation, the woman was even able to move around independently, although she needed a walking stick.

In those days, her granddaughter Zhenia, who had only recently celebrated her birthday, was happy because she had bought new curtain magnets, carefully chosen to match the newly redecorated room.

Quote from Yuliia: "She was a Virgo, she loved making the space around her beautiful. She used to tease me: 'How does your husband live with you?' (he is also a Virgo). I would reply that only my childhood with her allowed me to be understanding towards my husband. The secret to a happy life: respect your neighbour's neurosis as your own. She definitely had this match with her husband."

Details: A farewell ceremony for the women will be held on 4 October at 10:00 at the crematorium of the Baikove Cemetery.

Background: A Russian attack on 30 September killed two people and injured five others, two of whom had to be taken to hospital.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.