On a fateful Monday morning in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, a Russian missile struck a residential building, claiming the lives of a two-month-old baby girl, Ulyana Kulyk, her mother, and two brothers. The father, Maksym Kulyk, who was cooking breakfast at the time, miraculously survived the devastating attack.
The UNICEF reported that such heartbreaking incidents have sadly become commonplace in Ukraine, with numerous attacks on populated areas resulting in casualties, including children. In the first 12 days of November alone, at least four children lost their lives, and over twenty were injured in intense and sustained attacks.
The scene of the missile strike depicted a harrowing sight, with the apartment block appearing as if it had been sliced in half by the sheer force of the ballistic missile. The tragic loss of Ulyana and her family has left a community in mourning, as they bid farewell to the young lives taken too soon.
The funeral of Ulyana, her mother, and brothers was a poignant moment, with four coffins adorned with flowers and toys, symbolizing the innocence lost in the conflict. Maksym Kulyk, in his emotional tribute, expressed his profound love for his family members and the pain of their untimely departure.
The devastating impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine was further highlighted by the fact that all the children had been born during the years of the war with Russia, underscoring the generational toll of the violence.
The city of Kryvyi Rih, which has been repeatedly targeted by missile strikes, declared a day of mourning to honor the victims of the recent attack. The relentless aerial assaults on civilian areas coincide with Russia's military advances in eastern Ukraine, raising concerns about the escalating conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets by Russian forces, emphasizing the urgent need for international support to halt the violence and protect innocent lives. The tragic loss of Ulyana and her family serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the imperative to end the bloodshed.
As Ukraine marks 1,000 days since the full-scale invasion, the world watches with apprehension, hoping for a resolution to the conflict that has claimed countless lives and shattered families.
