27-year-old Valeriia Shurkhaieva was killed on January 24, 2015, in Mariupol. At 9:15 a.m., Russian forces shelled the “Skhidnyi” neighborhood with Grad multiple rocket launchers. In just 38 seconds, 29 people were killed and 92 injured.
Valeriia lived in the “Skhidnyi” district with her husband and young daughter. She worked at the third branch of Ukrposhta on 31 Kyivska Street.
On January 24, 2015, she was supposed to have the day off. But she was asked to cover a shift.
That morning, two divisions of BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems of the Russian Armed Forces fired more than 120 unguided fragmentation high-explosive rockets S-21OF at “Skhidnyi.” One of the rockets hit the post office. A fire broke out.
“Lera was very afraid of shelling. She lived almost on the outskirts of ‘Skhidnyi’ and constantly heard shots coming from the ‘gray zone.’ On the day of the tragedy, she was alone at the post office. Right after the terrible shelling, I started calling her, but no one picked up anymore. I contacted her husband, he went searching. Sadly, he found his wife already in the morgue,” recalled her friend and classmate, Aliona Alieva.
Valeriia was born and raised in Mariupol. While in middle school, she lost her mother, and her grandparents raised her.
“She was very kind, simple, empathetic, always smiling even when things were hard. We became close after school, when we discovered that our daughters were born in the same year, on the same day, and at the same hour,” Aliona added. “She was such a bright and wonderful person. She had a big heart and dreamed of a happy family. We miss her deeply and will always remember her!”
Valeriia graduated from School No. 28. She studied business economics at the Mariupol Electromechanical Technical College. Together with her husband, she raised their daughter.
“She was a quiet, modest girl, not from a wealthy family. Always communicative. She studied well. I remember she always tried to smile, but her eyes were sad and far too grown-up for her age,” added classmate Anna Apolska.
Valeriia Shurkhaieva was laid to rest at the Starokrymske Cemetery, next to her mother.
At 9:00 a.m. — a nationwide moment of silence. Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Memorial platform: Killed by Russia honor the residents of Donetsk region who were murdered by Russians.