Children of war

The last bell in memory of the dead students: in Zaporizhzhia, they said goodbye to girls who became victims of war (photo)

War is always pain, loss and tragedy, but it becomes most painful when it takes the lives of children. Little hearts that should grow, dream and create the future are stopped because of the inhuman cruelty of war. Hundreds of Ukrainian children will no longer see the dawn, sit at school desks and hug their relatives. Their names remain in our memory, and their dreams are broken into fragments that are forever etched in our national consciousness. This story is about two girls from Zaporizhzhia who became victims of the war and will forever remain a part of the painful history of Ukraine.

The last bell for those who will never return

December 9 in Zaporizhzhia in one of the gymnasiums rang out the symbolic last bell, dedicated to the memory of two schoolgirls – sixth-grader Kateryna Lysenko and ninth-grader Tetyana Syrovatko, who died in the evening of December 6 during a Russian airstrike. To honor their memory, teachers, classmates and friends gathered in the walls of the gymnasium to remember the girls and express their grief.

Kateryna Lysenko: a smile that no longer shines

On December 6, 2023, the thread of life broke in the life of sixth grader Kateryna Lysenko. Katya was one of those children who are impossible not to notice: bright, cheerful, talented and always ready to help.

Photo of Kateryna Lysenko at the gymnasium. Photo: Public Zaporizhzhia

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Her class teacher, Svitlana Kondratenko, remembers the girl as an extremely responsible student who cared about everything that happened at school:

“Katyusha was a very cheerful child, very talented, beautiful, friendly, kind. She was always concerned about what was happening at school. She always tried to participate in all our activities, to be creative. And in general, I think that there is no child or teacher who would say that Katya did not want to study.”

Svitlana Kondratenko, class teacher Katya Lysenko. Photo: Public Zaporizhzhia

Kateryna dreamed of the future – planned New Year’s celebrations with her classmates, invented quests, offered ideas for school events. Her dreams were cut short that evening, when a Russian airstrike took the lives of the girl and her family. The last bell for Katya rang not in May, but in December, when her classmates, teachers and friends came to the gymnasium to say goodbye.

Tatiana Sirovatko: the sun that was darkened by the war

Along with Katya, ninth-grader Tetyana Syrovatko died that tragic evening. Tanya was everyone’s favorite — from classmates to teachers. She joined the gymnasium team only two years ago, already during the war, but during this time she managed to become the heart and soul of the class.

Tetyana Syrovatko holds the flag of Ukraine together with her classmates. Photo: personal archive of class teacher Svitlana Matviets

Her class teacher Svitlana Matviets speaks with trepidation about the girl:

“You know, there are people like the sun. They appear in your life and enter directly into your soul. Tanichka was just such a child. She came to us in the seventh grade, already when the war began. But she is such a bright child, that she entered the class and became a favorite. She was always an optimist. The smile never left her face

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Tanya has always been an initiator of volunteering. She organized meetings with volunteers who take care of homeless animals, and was always at the center of our patriotic actions. When we were preparing letters and a flag for our soldiers in October for Defender of Ukraine Day, she stood in the center, so proud of the flag she was signing.”

Svitlana Matviets, class teacher Tanya Syrovatko. Photo: Public Zaporizhzhia

On December 6, together with her mother, Tatiana was killed in an airstrike. Now her smile will remain only in the memories of those who knew and loved her.

These two stories are just a drop in the ocean of tragedies that war brings to Ukraine. Every dead child is a loss not only for the family, but also for the entire nation. Their dreams, smiles, hopes remain unfulfilled, but their memory will live forever.

 

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