87-year-old Valentyna Kochura was killed in Mariupol as a result of Russian shelling. She was sheltering in School No. 56 together with her son, Oleksandr, who was also killed.
"It happened on April 18 or 19, 2022, at the school on Morskyi Boulevard near Azovstal. My mother and brother were in the basement. Most likely, there was an airstrike, and the concrete floors collapsed. My mother was killed under the rubble immediately, while my brother survived for some time afterward," said Valentyna's son, Serhii Kochura
Valentyna Kochura was originally from Azerbaijan. She worked as a mathematics teacher. In her free time, she enjoyed gymnastics and yoga and led a healthy lifestyle.
"She was a loving and kind grandmother and mother," her son Serhii said.
Valentyna Kochura is survived by her son, grandchildren, and other relatives.
At 9:00 a.m., Ukraine observes the National Minute of Silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Memorial: Victims Killed by Russia platform honor the memory of the residents of the Donetsk region killed by Russian forces.