Attack on a Kyiv Apartment Building
During the night of June 15, a missile struck a historic residential building in Kyiv that houses the apartment of Svitlana Poklad, widow of renowned Ukrainian composer Ihor Poklad. At the time of the attack, Svitlana was at her dacha in Vorzel and learned about the strike through social media. Although her apartment remained structurally intact, the blast shattered windows and doors, and the interior was covered in dust. The windows had been left open for ventilation, which Svitlana believes prevented more severe damage. However, neighbors suffered broken windowpanes, and the doors in Svitlana’s apartment were blown off.
Mystery and Destruction
The first strike on this building occurred on July 9, the very day Ihor Poklad died. Svitlana described that event as 'mystical.'
'The first strike was pure mysticism—it happened on the day Ihor Dmytrovych died, July 9 of that year. Our neighbor, Olichka Sumska, immediately wrote to me: “Svitlana, your roof is on fire.” My husband was dying, and at the same time, there was a strike on our Kyiv building,' Svitlana Poklad recalled.
That initial attack targeted the building’s courtyard, where a Shahed drone was likely shot down, with debris falling onto the property.
The recent strike also damaged apartments of other notable residents, including:
- conservatory rector Maksym Tymoshenko
- film director Roman Balayan
- the widow of Oleksandr Taranets
- opera singer Anatolii Kocherha
- the widow of actor Mykola Hrynko
Approximately 90% of the building’s apartments were affected by the enemy drone strike. In Maksym Tymoshenko’s apartment, the children’s room, where his daughter was sleeping, was hit particularly hard.
Svitlana emphasized that this building is 'legendary,' as it is home to many famous and talented individuals.
'This is truly a legendary building. You probably won’t find such a concentration of famous, talented, and legendary people per square meter anywhere else in Kyiv,' Svitlana Poklad said.
Sadly, many of these residents have passed away, but their widows and children remain.
This incident highlights not only the tragedy of personal losses but also the broader security situation in Kyiv, where shelling has become a grim reality for many residents. The famous individuals living in this building embody Ukraine’s cultural heritage, and their stories reflect the resilience and unyielding spirit of people during difficult times. Recognizing the importance of these cultural figures can help preserve the memory of their achievements and bolster Ukrainian identity in the modern world.
The recent missile attack not only inflicted significant damage on the historic building in Kyiv but also raised concerns about the safety of its residents. Among them, Svitlana Poklad managed to preserve her late husband's invaluable archive during the chaos. To learn more about how she safeguarded this important collection amidst the destruction, read about the preservation of composer Ihor Poklad’s archive.