The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement
WorldWorld in pictures

This was published 3 years ago

'At 1am they deprived us of our only son': Artem, 11, and other victims of Russia's indiscriminate attacks

Gallery icon40 Images

Russia's attacks on southern Ukraine have been devastatingly inaccurate, hitting apartment blocks, killing civilians in their sleep and leaving residents in liberated towns too scared to venture from their homes. Photography by our photojournalist Kate Geraghty

Volodymyr Kmitevych, 55, sits in the bedroom he once shared with his wife Olena. He watched as she was hit in a missile strike while driving her scooter - the blast severely injuring her head and placing her in a coma. Olena died on October 25, less than a month after her 50th birthday.

1/40

Volodymyr Kmitevych, 55, sits in the bedroom he once shared with his wife Olena. He watched as she was hit in a missile strike while driving her scooter - the blast severely injuring her head and placing her in a coma. Olena died on October 25, less than a month after her 50th birthday.Credit:Kate Geraghty

A local waits in his car at a World Central Kitchen food distribution point in Novooleksandrivka village in the Kherson Oblast. Locals in this area will only leave their homes to go collect groceries as they live in fear of Russian missile attacks.

2/40

A local waits in his car at a World Central Kitchen food distribution point in Novooleksandrivka village in the Kherson Oblast. Locals in this area will only leave their homes to go collect groceries as they live in fear of Russian missile attacks.Credit:Kate Geraghty

A view from a school window in Bilozirka that was used by the Russian forces as a base. They shelled the school when they fled the village. Bilozirka was liberated in March from Russian occupation, but continues to be under constant threat of return fire from Russians as the Ukrainian forces continue the southern counter-offensive to liberate the Mykolaiv and Kherson Oblasts.

3/40

A view from a school window in Bilozirka that was used by the Russian forces as a base. They shelled the school when they fled the village. Bilozirka was liberated in March from Russian occupation, but continues to be under constant threat of return fire from Russians as the Ukrainian forces continue the southern counter-offensive to liberate the Mykolaiv and Kherson Oblasts. Credit:Kate Geraghty

In Bilozirka village, Tetyana Zamozhnya, 60, cleans up at the medical clinic where she works. It was severely damaged by a Russian strike. Bilozirka was liberated in March from Russian occupation but the threat of missile attacks remains.

4/40

In Bilozirka village, Tetyana Zamozhnya, 60, cleans up at the medical clinic where she works. It was severely damaged by a Russian strike. Bilozirka was liberated in March from Russian occupation but the threat of missile attacks remains.Credit:Kate Geraghty

Advertisement
Serhiy, 39, sits in his bomb shelter where he sleeps. His home in Novooleksandrivka village, Kherson Oblast, was severely damaged by missile strikes on October 14. Serhiy spent years renovating his home and now hopes to rebuild. Novooleksandrivka was liberated from Russian occupation on October 3. The village has no power, no gas, no water and shops are closed. Residents rely on food from their gardens, humanitarian aid and water trucks bringing in drinkable water.

5/40

Serhiy, 39, sits in his bomb shelter where he sleeps. His home in Novooleksandrivka village, Kherson Oblast, was severely damaged by missile strikes on October 14. Serhiy spent years renovating his home and now hopes to rebuild. Novooleksandrivka was liberated from Russian occupation on October 3. The village has no power, no gas, no water and shops are closed. Residents rely on food from their gardens, humanitarian aid and water trucks bringing in drinkable water. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Rayisa, 84, at home in Novooleksandrivka village in the Kherson Oblast. The windows of her family home shattered from the impact of a Grad missile hitting the street on October 14.

6/40

Rayisa, 84, at home in Novooleksandrivka village in the Kherson Oblast. The windows of her family home shattered from the impact of a Grad missile hitting the street on October 14. Credit:Kate Geraghty

In Novooleksandrivka, Volodymyr Kmitevych's wife, Olena, was injured on October 14 by a missile strike. He dropped to the ground to take cover and watched as she was struck as she rode her scooter down the road carrying food she had just picked up from the humanitarian aid centre. She died from her injuries on October 25, less than a month after her 50th birthday.

7/40

In Novooleksandrivka, Volodymyr Kmitevych's wife, Olena, was injured on October 14 by a missile strike. He dropped to the ground to take cover and watched as she was struck as she rode her scooter down the road carrying food she had just picked up from the humanitarian aid centre. She died from her injuries on October 25, less than a month after her 50th birthday.Credit:Kate Geraghty

In Bilozirka, Lubov Poherelova, 66, and Nadiya Dukhova, 76, in front of the home where they both live. Their children are married and they refuse to leave their home. Bilozirka was liberated in March from Russian occupation and continues to be under constant threat of return fire from Russian troops.

8/40

In Bilozirka, Lubov Poherelova, 66, and Nadiya Dukhova, 76, in front of the home where they both live. Their children are married and they refuse to leave their home. Bilozirka was liberated in March from Russian occupation and continues to be under constant threat of return fire from Russian troops.Credit:Kate Geraghty

Ala and Ruslan Mardziavko lost their 11-year-old son Artem. He was killed from injuries sustained when a missile hit their apartment building in Mykolaiv. Artem's bedroom was on the ground floor and he was trapped for seven hours in the rubble before being rescued. He later died in hospital.

9/40

Ala and Ruslan Mardziavko lost their 11-year-old son Artem. He was killed from injuries sustained when a missile hit their apartment building in Mykolaiv. Artem's bedroom was on the ground floor and he was trapped for seven hours in the rubble before being rescued. He later died in hospital.Credit:Kate Geraghty

A supplied photo of Artem Mardziavko. Artem, 11, and six others were killed on October 13 in Mykolaiv by a Russian S300 missile strike. “At 1am, the Russians decided to deprive us of our only son, our only soul, our meaning for life,” his mother Alla says.

10/40

A supplied photo of Artem Mardziavko. Artem, 11, and six others were killed on October 13 in Mykolaiv by a Russian S300 missile strike. “At 1am, the Russians decided to deprive us of our only son, our only soul, our meaning for life,” his mother Alla says. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The playground at the front of the apartment that was hit by a missile on October 13. Artem, 11, was trapped in the ruins for seven hours before being rescued, but later died from his injuries.

11/40

The playground at the front of the apartment that was hit by a missile on October 13. Artem, 11, was trapped in the ruins for seven hours before being rescued, but later died from his injuries.Credit:Kate Geraghty

The apartment building in Mykolaiv that was hit by a missile on October 13, where Artem was trapped in the ruins for seven hours before being rescued. He later died from his injuries. Six others were killed in the October 13 strike.

12/40

The apartment building in Mykolaiv that was hit by a missile on October 13, where Artem was trapped in the ruins for seven hours before being rescued. He later died from his injuries. Six others were killed in the October 13 strike. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Valentyna Khazan, 55, and Olena Siyanko, 71, stand in front of their apartment building that remains intact after it was impacted by the S300 missile strike that killed Artem on October 13.

13/40

Valentyna Khazan, 55, and Olena Siyanko, 71, stand in front of their apartment building that remains intact after it was impacted by the S300 missile strike that killed Artem on October 13. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The grave of Artem Mardziavko at the Meshkovske cemetery in Mykolaiv. Artem was killed from injuries sustained when a missile hit his apartment building.

14/40

The grave of Artem Mardziavko at the Meshkovske cemetery in Mykolaiv. Artem was killed from injuries sustained when a missile hit his apartment building. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Advertisement
A white coat rescued from the ruins hangs on debris in front of residential homes damaged by a missile attack on November 1 in Mykolaiv, Ukraine.

15/40

A white coat rescued from the ruins hangs on debris in front of residential homes damaged by a missile attack on November 1 in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Oleksandr, 54, climbs out of the bomb shelter that his son has built in the yard of his home in Novooleksandrivka village in the Kherson Oblast. The windows in his home shattered from the impact of a Grad missile hitting the street outside his home on October 14.

16/40

Oleksandr, 54, climbs out of the bomb shelter that his son has built in the yard of his home in Novooleksandrivka village in the Kherson Oblast. The windows in his home shattered from the impact of a Grad missile hitting the street outside his home on October 14. Credit:Kate Geraghty

At the Matviyivka new cemetery, Oleksandr Zholob, 71, holds a photo of his only child, Dmytro Zholob, at his grave. Dmytro was 46-years-old when he was killed on August 29 in a missile strike in Mykolaiv. He was walking back from a shop after tending to seven cats left behind by neighbours. A piece of shrapnel from the missile strike on residential buildings hit him in the head killing him instantly. He is survived by his wife and an 18 year-old-daughter.

17/40

At the Matviyivka new cemetery, Oleksandr Zholob, 71, holds a photo of his only child, Dmytro Zholob, at his grave. Dmytro was 46-years-old when he was killed on August 29 in a missile strike in Mykolaiv. He was walking back from a shop after tending to seven cats left behind by neighbours. A piece of shrapnel from the missile strike on residential buildings hit him in the head killing him instantly. He is survived by his wife and an 18 year-old-daughter. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Ukrainian flags fly above the graves of soldiers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the Matviyivka cemetery. Many belonged to the Mykolaiv Battalion.

18/40

Ukrainian flags fly above the graves of soldiers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the Matviyivka cemetery. Many belonged to the Mykolaiv Battalion.Credit:Kate Geraghty

Empty graves at the Matviyivka new cemetery.

19/40

Empty graves at the Matviyivka new cemetery.Credit:Kate Geraghty

Locals at Lymany village queue for food packages at a World Kitchen humanitarian aid distribution point in Mykolaiv Oblast.

20/40

Locals at Lymany village queue for food packages at a World Kitchen humanitarian aid distribution point in Mykolaiv Oblast.Credit:Kate Geraghty