Volodymyr Zviahintsev was killed on March 22, 2022, at the Azovstal Stadium in the Left Bank District of Mariupol. He, his wife, and several other people had left their shelter to cook food over an open fire on the football field. His wife had just gone back to get some salt when a shell struck the stadium.
The bodies of the five victims were buried in the crater left by the explosion, and a plaque bearing their names was placed at the site. However, after Russian forces occupied the city, the bodies disappeared.
Volodymyr turned 69 years old on the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion. He was born and lived in Mariupol. His father, Vasyl, was originally from Kursk, Russia. The family moved to Mariupol to help build the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works. During World War II, Vasyl was taken to a concentration camp. After returning, he lived only a few more years and died when Volodymyr was seven years old.
Volodymyr spent his entire professional life working at Azovstal, the plant his father had helped build. He served as a shop manager.
"He loved reading and playing chess. He had a large home library. He was a wonderful father and grandfather—a kind, modest man. He was respected at work and loved at home. Volodymyr had a summer cottage where he spent time growing vegetables. He bought motorcycles for himself and his son, and together they traveled across Ukraine... His wife and son managed to escape that hell alive. When they later returned to the devastated city to give their loved one a proper burial, they could not find his body or any place where he might have been reburied. We cannot visit his grave. Volodymyr's home was also destroyed," said Iryna, the wife of his cousin.
Volodymyr Zviahintsev is survived by his wife, son, daughter, and grandchildren.
At 9:00 a.m., Ukraine observes the National Minute of Silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration, together with the Memorial: Victims Killed by Russia platform, honors civilians from the Donetsk region who were killed by Russian aggression.