A recent drone and missile strike on Kyiv has led to the heartbreaking loss of Nataliia Khodemchuk, the widow of the first Soviet engineer killed during the catastrophic Chornobyl disaster in 1986. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his sorrow over her death, labeling it as a “new tragedy caused by the Kremlin,” underscoring the lasting effects of the Chornobyl incident that occurred nearly 40 years ago.
Nataliia’s late husband, Valerii Khodemchuk, was a circulating pump operator at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and tragically died following the explosion of reactor number four. His remains were never recovered, marking a painful chapter in the history of one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. After the explosion, Nataliia and her children were evacuated from Pripyat, receiving a new home in Kyiv that became known as the “Chornobyl house.”
This past Friday, a drone struck a residential building on Honoré de Balzac Street in the Troieshchyna district, resulting in severe burns that covered 45% of Nataliia’s body. Despite receiving urgent medical care, she succumbed to her injuries, adding another layer of tragedy to a life already filled with sorrow. The attack impacted her neighborhood significantly, claiming the lives of six others, including Oleksiy Ananenko, a fellow Chornobyl worker whose actions were crucial in averting further disaster after the explosion.
The state agency responsible for the Chornobyl exclusion zone expressed profound regret over Nataliia’s passing, highlighting her resilience over the years. Notably, she was poised to take part in a photoshoot to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, reflecting the bittersweet nature of her legacy.
Nataliia and Valerii’s love story began in the 1970s at a local canteen in Pripyat. Following the disaster, Nataliia’s life was forever altered as she searched for her husband and faced the challenges of raising two children under difficult circumstances.
Ukrainian journalist Tamara Khrushch, who has documented the experiences of Chornobyl survivors, expressed her sorrow regarding the recent attack, revealing that many survivors have been rendered homeless again. She also noted Nataliia’s strength in coping with chronic health problems stemming from the disaster in 1986.
In light of the recent escalation of aerial assaults by Russian forces, President Zelenskyy has emphasized the need for enhanced air defense systems. With nearly 1,000 drones, along with guided bombs and missiles unleashed on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, the call for increased global support for Ukraine’s defense efforts has become more pressing than ever.
This tragic incident serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of conflict, layered over the historical wounds left by the Chornobyl disaster, as the stories of its survivors continue to resonate through such painful losses.