UNICEF expresses deep condolences over the tragic deaths of children and their mothers after rocket attacks in Kryvyi Rih

On the night of November 12, Kryvyi Rih suffered another rocket attack that destroyed a multi-story building and took the life of an entire family. Ten-year-old Kyrylo, his three-year-old brother Demid, their sister Ulyana, who was only two months old, and their mother died under the debris. The father became the only one who survived from this family. This tragedy did not leave either the public or the international community indifferent. UNICEF expressed sympathy and deep regret for this loss, reminding that such a fate can befall any child in Ukraine who is at risk every day.

In the conditions of war, children in Ukraine are forced to grow up amid constant fear and a sense of danger. As noted at UNICEF, every night Ukrainian children go to bed with the thought of a possible attack, because their homes can be destroyed at any moment. Instead of falling asleep in safety and warmth, many children hide with their parents in corridors, in basements, in bomb shelters, hoping for a quiet morning when they can return to normal life. But for three small residents of Kryvyi Rih, this morning will not come, and their lives are another painful reminder that war destroys the most valuable and vulnerable.

This case became another tragic event that deeply affects society and reminds us of the fragility of children’s lives in wartime. UNICEF expressed concern that, unfortunately, such tragic stories are becoming commonplace for Ukrainians, because shelling of peaceful towns and villages does not stop. The UN agency for children’s rights emphasized that every injury and every loss leaves deep wounds not only on the child’s body, but also on his psyche. Even those who survive are forced to live with the trauma for the rest of their lives as the daily fears and losses leave a mark on their hearts forever.

According to UNICEF, only in the first 12 days of November in Ukraine, at least four children died and twenty were injured. Each such number is not just a statistic, it is a ruined life and family, it is trauma that stays with children for years, if not forever. No child should live in constant fear for his life and the lives of his relatives, but in Ukraine, unfortunately, this has become a reality. Every appearance of an air raid signal and every sound of an explosion for Ukrainian children is a reminder of a threat that can take their lives or the lives of loved ones.

UNICEF calls for an immediate end to attacks on peaceful settlements, because children must have the right to safety wherever they are. From home to school and playground, every place should be protected. The UN agency emphasizes that children have the right to grow up in an environment where their only concerns are learning, friends and play, and not the constant readiness to flee to shelter.

For Ukrainians, the tragedy in Kryvyi Rih is another terrible episode in the endless war, which brings pain and suffering to families who lose the most dearly. This story shows that even at home, where children are supposed to be safe, war creeps in without warning, claiming innocent lives. And as long as the war continues, such incidents happen again and again, breaking destinies and leaving deep scars on the heart of the nation.

Every tragic case, like the one in Kryvyi Rih, only strengthens calls for peace, security and protection of every little Ukrainian.