A woman pinned beneath concrete, a man with a badly broken leg, a child trapped under the rubble.
The aftermath of Thursday’s Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv was grimly familiar: residents clawing through debris as rescuers arrived, against a backdrop of anguished cries and groans.
Among those who rushed to help was 19-year-old Vladislav Kalashnikov. Though his own flat had been torn apart in the blast, he ran to assist neighbours in a nearby block.
“I wasn’t frightened – I went straight to help,” he told Reuters outside the partly destroyed building on the eastern edge of Kyiv, where all but one of the at least 18 victims of the strikes across the city had been killed.
Footage filmed by the aspiring lawyer on his mobile phone showed a nightmarish scene of flames, twisted steel, shattered brickwork and broken glass.
Once he had checked on his family’s safety, Kalashnikov moved through the wreckage, where he came across a man lying helpless with a broken leg.
“He was screaming for help,” he recalled. “There was also a child crying for help. We helped the child first – she was trapped beneath the rubble.”
Kalashnikov, calm as he spoke, also described trying with others to pull free a woman with a severe head wound who was pinned under a concrete slab.
Explosions thundered in the distance as they worked, his video showed.
“We couldn’t lift the block,” he said quietly, lowering his eyes. It was not immediately clear if she had survived.
As he spoke, rescue workers carried away the dead in black body bags.
Kalashnikov said, like many Ukrainians, he had become accustomed to the increasingly frequent barrages that Russia which denies targeting civilians has launched against Kyiv and other cities.
Despite his close brush with death, he insisted he had no plans to leave Ukraine, even though the government this week lifted a ban on men aged 18 to 22 travelling abroad.
“I want to continue my studies,” he said. “My future is here.”
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has accused the U.S. of preventing Iranian supporters from attending the country's World Cup ...
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported...
The United States has added some of China's biggest technology and automotive companies, including Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and Nio, to a Pentagon list of ...
The Democratic Republic of Congo's latest Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 100 lives, with health authorities warning that armed conflict and atta...
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been denied entry to the United States, preventing him from taking part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and ending...
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has accused the U.S. of preventing Iranian supporters from attending the country's World Cup matches after its allocation of tickets was withdrawn just days before the tournament begins.
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported that Trump had privately told Benjamin Netanyahu “be careful, or you will be on your own very soon”.
The United States has added some of China's biggest technology and automotive companies, including Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and Nio, to a Pentagon list of firms it believes are linked to Beijing's military.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's latest Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 100 lives, with health authorities warning that armed conflict and attacks on aid workers are hindering efforts to contain the disease.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in parliament, Pashinyan is set for a third term as Prime Minister. But an opposition politican has said he will challenge the election results.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família basilica, almost exactly 100 years after the visionary architect’s death.
Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have meanwhile made pleas for peace.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has accused the U.S. of preventing Iranian supporters from attending the country's World Cup matches after its allocation of tickets was withdrawn just days before the tournament begins.
The United States has added some of China's biggest technology and automotive companies, including Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and Nio, to a Pentagon list of firms it believes are linked to Beijing's military.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's latest Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 100 lives, with health authorities warning that armed conflict and attacks on aid workers are hindering efforts to contain the disease.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been denied entry to the United States, preventing him from taking part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and ending what would have been a historic moment for Somali football.
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has been suspended pending a vote by member states on whether he should be removed from office, following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment