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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Matt Gibson

Boy, 14, hailed 'hero of Ukraine' after he was killed warning neighbours of air strike

Tributes have been paid to a 14-year-old Ukrainian boy who died warning elderly neighbours of an imminent Russian air strike.

Viacheslav Yalyshev was alerted to the impending attack on the port city of Odesa through an app on his phone.

His first instinct was not to save himself but to run around his neighbourhood, which is home to many older people who do not own smartphones, ensuring those who needed help could get to safety.

The boy's father, Yevhen, who is a member of Ukraine 's air force, paid an emotional tribute to his son on social media where he described him as "the hero of Ukraine".

Firefighters spray water onto fire in a destroyed building after a missile strike, in Odesa, Ukraine (via REUTERS)

Viacheslav is understood to have been killed after being hit by falling debris when two rockets struck a nearby building and church roof.

Odesa's mayor Gennady Trukhanov condemned Russia 's actions and described the teenager's death as "another blow".

“There will never be forgiveness for those who shed the blood of innocent people, especially children,” he said.

One of the boy's neighbours told local news: “He was a very good, kind, and sympathetic boy. Very capable, sincere. I just have no words.

“He studied diligently and often did his homework in his basement when there were bombings.”

Viacheslav Yalyshev, 14, was killed as he ran to alert elderly neighbours of a Russian air strike (Supplied)

Reports say that his sister and grandparents were also injured in the bombing.

A separate Russian air strike on Odesa last month killed a mother and her infant daughter.

Valerie [Valeriya] Glodan and her daughter Kira, who was just three months old, were among eight people who died after cruise missiles were dropped on an apartment block in the city, with the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The number of civilians killed in Ukraine following Russia's invasion of the country continues to rise and is now well into the thousands.

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