On the night of 17 October, a Russian air strike killed a rescuer in Sloviansk, in Donetsk region.
The State Emergency Service reported this.
“Tonight, a Russian air strike on a residential area of Sloviansk cut short the life of our colleague. An enemy aerial bomb destroyed part of an apartment block, and Anatolii Hopka was trapped beneath the rubble. Rescuers hoped until the very end that he could be saved; however, during the emergency response operations they recovered the body of their fallen comrade from under the debris,” they said.
Anatolii Hopka was 41. He served in the State Emergency Service for more than 16 years.
“This is an irreparable loss for the entire family of Donetsk region’s rescuers. We extend our sincere condolences to his relatives, loved ones and everyone who knew Anatolii. We share your pain and bow our heads in mourning,” the agency said.
- On the morning of 17 October, Russian forces carried out an air strike on a residential neighbourhood of Sloviansk in Donetsk region. One person is known to have been killed and 10 injured. People may still be trapped under the rubble.