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The Tribunal for Putin (T4P) global initiative was set up in response to the all-out war launched by Russia against Ukraine in February 2022.

Death toll rises from Kharkiv terrorist attack

25.02.2015   
Up to 500 Kharkiv residents joined in a civic panakhyda, or requiem service on Tuesday in memory of the four victims, including two young lads, of Sunday’s terrorist attack

Up to 500 Kharkiv residents joined in a civic panakhyda, or requiem service on Tuesday in memory of the four victims, including two young lads, of Sunday’s terrorist attack. 

(left to right)  Mykola Melnychuk, Danil Didyk, Vadim Rybalchenko, Ihor Tolmachev

18-year-old student Mykola Melnychuk died early on Tuesday morning of the injuries he sustained.  A day earlier 15-year-old Danil Didyk died after being in a coma since the bomb blast.  Ihor Tolmachev, a physicist and one of the coordinators of the Kharkiv EuroMaidan protests was killed outright, as was police colonel Vadim Rybalchenko. 

The OSCE observer mission issued a spot report on the bomb blast at what they called a “pro-Maidan march commemorating the anniversary of February 2014 events in Kharkiv”.  The bomb was detonated outside the Palace of Sport on Marshall Zhukova St. as around 500 participants, including children, walked towards Liberty Square, carrying a 250 m. long Ukrainian flag to Liberty Square.  The explosive device contained both TNT and shrapnel, so was clearly aimed to kill or maim.

The claim was made that same day by Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-Russian representative of the Kremlin-backed militants in Donbas, that this was an ‘answer’ to the events in Odessa on May 2.  Even were there any grounds for the monstrous lies about the disturbances and fire in Odessa having been a ‘massacre’, it is well to remember that there was every likelihood that children or young people would be among the dead.  

During the remembrance service on Tuesday, one young woman – Olena – spoke of how she was walking in the same column as the young lads who were killed.

“It is unjust that such good people die, children still.  They’re monsters, those that did this, I couldn’t call them people even.  May God be their judge!  However we can’t return those lads, today I will be praying for them and for each Kharkiv resident, for all to be healthy and for there to finally be peace in Ukraine.”

The service was addressed first a Muslim religious figure and then an Orthodox priest.  The latter said that he would like to find words or comfort and solace for the families and friends of the people killed, but there are none.

“Our unity – that is our answer. We must come out against, as we did last winter and all year”.

 

[Halya Coynash]

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