An eight-year-old girl was killed by shelling after her grandfather died trying to shield her from Russian fire with his body.
Alisa’s grandfather died in a hail of bombs during a brutal Russian assault in the devastated the the Ukrainian city of Ochtyrka in northeastern Sumy Oblast, the wife of the Ukrainian President announced.
Alisa’s heroic granddad was killed as he cradled the little girl in his arms to protect her from the blast. He had been trying to hide her from the Russian assault in his basement.
But he was tragically killed in front of his granddaughter’s eyes as they tried to escape the basement. He died using his body as human shield to try and save her.
Reports from Tokyo Broadcasting System said Alisa was gravely injured in the attack and rushed to hospital by her devastated mother Victoria.
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But the youngster was unable to survive her horrific injuries and passed away two days later.
Alisa’s terrible story is just one of the horrific tales of children killed by the Russian war on Ukraine, shared in a post by the Ukrainian First Lady and wife of President Zelenskyy.
In a post calling on Nato to implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine, and pleading "save our children, so that yours will not die tomorrow!" Olena Zelenskyy wrote: “The occupiers are killing Ukrainian children. Consciously and cynically. Our children.
“Alisa from the Ukrainian city of Okhtyrka. She did not live to be 8 years old. She died during the shelling along with her grandfather, who covered her with his own body.”
Ms Zelenskyy claimed that at least 38 children have already been killed as a result of the Russian invasion, while sharing the harrowing stories of other youngsters who had been caught in the crossfire.
“Wounded by shelling. 18-month-old Kirill from Mariupol was taken to hospital by his parents under fire. But doctors could not do anything.”
Sharing heartbreaking images of the youngsters Olena continued: “Polina from Kyiv. She died during the shelling on the streets of the capital, along with her parents and brother. My sister is in serious condition.
“Arseniy, 14 years old. A fragment of the projectile hit the boy in the head. The medics were unable to reach the fire, and Arseniy was bleeding.
“Sofiyka, 6 years old. She was shot with her one-and-a-half-month-old brother, mother, grandmother and grandfather in a car. The family tried to leave Nova Kakhovka.
“I have to tell you about it. More than 38 children have died in Ukraine. And due to the shelling of peaceful cities and towns, this figure may increase right now!
Olena said her heartrending post was an “appeal to all the honest media in the world!”
She begged reporters: “Tell this terrible truth: Russian invaders are killing children. And they do it deliberately, shooting at casualties and not missing humanitarian aid.”
The First Lady said humanitarian corridors were desperately needed to save “hundreds of children” who were dying “in basements without food or medical care.”
“They have not been contacted for a week, and the occupiers have been shooting families and volunteers while trying to leave or enter,” she added.
She blasted the widespread disinformation in the Russian media saying: “When people in Russia say they are not at war with the civilian population, show them these pictures! These are the faces of children who will never grow up.
“How many more children must die for Russian troops to stop firing and agree to humanitarian corridors?
“How much longer do they have to bleed and starve to stop destroying civilian vehicles and missing missions?
In a heartfelt appeal directly to the women of Russia Mrs Zelenskyy urged them to show compassion.
She said: “Show it to Russian mothers - let them know what their sons are doing in Ukraine. Show these photos to Russian women - your husbands, brothers, compatriots are killing the same children as yours! And you are personally responsible for the death of every Ukrainian child, because you give your tacit consent to these crimes.”
And repeating her husband president Zelenskyy’s appeal, she implored: “NATO countries: finally close the skies from Russian planes! Save our children so that yours will not die tomorrow!”
