A floorball player, teachers, schoolgirls and postal workers: stories of some of those killed in Kyiv on 14 May

On the night of 13-14 May, a Russian missile struck an apartment building in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district. Twenty-four people were killed in the attack, including three girls aged 12, 15 and 17. A day of mourning has been declared in the capital on Friday. Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life) has collected information about the Kyiv residents who were killed in the strike.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life)

Details: The attack claimed the life of Yurii Orlov, captain of the Kyiv Floorball Club.

Tamuz Khidir, a Ukrainian Floorball Federation board member, said Yurii scored the highest number of goals in the Ukrainian championship during the 2022-2023 season. Besides playing the sport, he worked as a rehabilitation therapist.

"Yurii was not just a player – he was a man who lived and breathed floorball, gave all his energy to the development of the team, and left a significant mark on Ukrainian floorball," the Ukrainian Floorball Federation wrote. "His dedication, professionalism and humanity will forever remain in the memory of everyone who had the honour of knowing him."

Yurii's girlfriend, Maryna Homeniuk, was also killed in the attack. She taught English at a Helen Doron educational centre in Kyiv.

"Maryna was a true polyglot and an exceptionally professional teacher," the centre wrote. "She had a deep love for languages and was constantly learning and developing, and she shared her knowledge generously with the children. For her students, she wasn't just a teacher – she was someone who inspired, supported and believed in every child. Her lessons were always filled with warmth, attention to detail and genuine care. She knew how to create an atmosphere in which children felt confident, calm and eager to learn."

Svitlana Moskalishyna, a teacher at kindergarten No. 774, was also killed in the strike. Her death was reported by Olha Sharan, whose daughter attended the kindergarten. Olha said the children adored Svitlana.

Her granddaughter also died with her.

The missile also killed Mariia, who had just finished ninth grade at Kyiv School No. 237. Mariia was 15. Her father and grandmother also died in the strike.

"Our cheerful, gentle, lively girl, who only yesterday was running to school with her backpack, laughing with her friends, dreaming of summer, of the future, of who she would become and whom she would love… Mariia, our sunshine… You were so young, so full of life. You just wanted to live," the school wrote.

Nova Poshta, Ukraine's largest private delivery company, reported the loss of two employees. Dmytro Lepskyi worked as an operator at branch No. 52. He died together with his wife Svitlana.

Svitlana was a teacher and events coordinator at Kyiv School No. 44.

In a tribute, the school described her as "pure-hearted, sincere, extraordinarily decent and incredibly hardworking! Creative, imaginative, talented! Delicate, charming, yet strong-willed and strong in spirit!"

Dmytro Pavelko, who was 23, worked as an operator at Nova Poshta branch No. 257. He was born in Poltava, but had lived in Kyiv in recent years.

A teacher named Daryna from the school Dmytro attended recalled that he was a creative person who loved modelling with plasticine and drawing.

"Dima used to come to my office and show me the figures he sculpted from plasticine. They were such exquisite sculptures, it seemed impossible that a fifth-grade child [about 10 years old] could create something like that. But he could. Then he would show me his drawings. They were never ordinary. Whenever I saw him, I felt surrounded by his warmth and light," Daryna said.

Dmytro's classmates told Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttia that he was extremely talented and deeply devoted to creativity. In recent years, he had performed as a drag artist under the name Mystic.

"He created every one of his performances himself: he came up with the concept, sewed the costumes, did the makeup, and sourced wigs and details to complete the look," one of his friends said. "He was very busy preparing for this year's Miss Diva [competition] in June. He'd chosen the acts, planned the performances – he lived for it. Even when he had no money, he still found a way to be creative."

The Kyiv restaurant Italiiska Redaktsiia also reported the loss of colleagues. The restaurant's manager, Ivan Mohylnyi, and florist Ivan Nosko were killed.

The restaurant wrote: "The entire First Line Group family is grieving this loss. They were part of our team – people who made every day brighter. Rest in peace, guys. You will forever remain in our hearts."

The attack also claimed the life of 12-year-old Liubava Yakovlieva, the daughter of a fallen serviceman and a sixth-grade pupil at School No. 323.

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