The chief of a Ukrainian fire department discovered the bodies of his wife, daughter and baby grandson when he and his team were called out to deal with a fire after a Russian strike. The drone hit a residential building in the city of Pryluky overnight, killing five people and injuring another nine.
In a statement on Thursday announcing the death of the firefighter’s daughter Daryna Shygyda, the National Police Guard said: “Three generations… there are no words that can ease this pain.”
Daryna was an acting police officer and had joined the force in 2020, when she was 22 years old.
“She was strong, bright and sincere. She was loyal to her oath, fair and had a deep sense of duty – this is how her colleagues and everyone who knew her will remember her,” the police said.
“Becoming a police officer was her dream and vocation. Her firefighter dad taught her to help people since she was a child.
“And her husband, who is also a patrol officer, always supported and helped in the service.”
Daryna was visiting her mother at the time of the deadly strike, according to the family.
“Misha, the little boy was screaming. And then everything went quiet,” Valentyn Lotysh told Ukrainian public media Suspilne.
Her baby son was just one year old. Authorities have as yet not released the boy’s name.
He became the 632nd child killed by Russia since its brutal full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to Ukraine’s President Zelensky.
Ukraine’s leader said Russia launched 103 drones and one ballistic missile against the country overnight, targeting multiple regions.
Referring to the drone attack on Pryluky, Zelensky repeated his calls for the West to take tougher action on Russia.
“This is yet another massive strike by terrorists – Russian terrorists who kill our people every night,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
This is yet another reason to impose maximum sanctions and exert pressure together.
“Strength matters, and only strength can end this war. Kyiv expects action from the US, Europe and everyone in the world who can truly help change these terrible circumstances.”
