Graduates of a high school bid farewell to a classmate who was murdered by Russians, marked by photographs and videos on their final school day.
In Zhytomyr Oblast, the eleventh-grade students of Lyceum No. 1 named after Gustaw Olizar held a moving Last Bell ceremony at the graveside of their classmate, Roman, who was tragically killed in a Russian attack on Korostyshiv on 25th May. Roman, along with his siblings, 8-year-old Stanislav and 12-year-old Tamara, were killed in the same attack.
Instead of the traditional photographs following their final lesson, the mourning students chose to visit Roman at his resting place, bringing toys, cards, and pieces of cake, as it was Tamara's birthday on the 29th of May. According to Yuliia Skok, the teacher who organized the ceremony, it was a day of silence, grief, and profound pain instead of a celebration filled with joy, tears of happiness, and a farewell to school.
The Russian assault on Ukrainian cities, which began on the night of the 24th-25th May, has brought about widespread mourning and devastation. The Martyniuk family—Roman, Stanislav, and Tamara—were among the countless victims of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.
In a poignant tribute to their lost friends, the 11th-grade students gathered at the cemetery, honoring the memory of the Martyniuk siblings. With no bells or loud music, their respect and love for the deceased children reverberated deeply in their hearts. The bell they heard would remain engraved in their memory forever, symbolizing a somber reminder of the stolen lives, childhoods, and celebrations created by the relentless war.
- The devastating effects of war-and-conflicts, such as the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, can often be seen in health news, as witnessed by the tragic deaths of the Martyniuk siblings.
- In the realm of general news, politics, and crime-and-justice, the war-and-conflicts often dominate headlines, but the story of the Martyniuk family serves as a reminder of the personal and profound impact these events have on individual lives.
