“Anastasia, 14, was killed in a bombing in Sumy. Three days later, a Russian missile caused panic by flying over his funeral.

At the end of the weekend, Sunday November 17, it was 8:30 p.m. when an explosion rang out in the center of Sumy. Kamikaze missiles and drones sent to the northeastern Ukrainian city usually strike only at dawn, when residents are in their beds. That evening, the Russian forces decided to attack while the population was still in the streets, preparing to eat dinner, meet friends, or hang out in front of the television… On site, twenty minutes after the bombing, Ambulances have already taken place along the road running alongside the residential area. The first six bodies were placed there, covered with survival blankets, bed sheets… Tatiana is kneeling next to her teenage daughter, Anastasia, 14, killed in the bombing. A little further on, Igor laments over the body of his son, Ilya, 9 years old, whose face is already white.

In the courtyard of the building, civilians look at the impact left by the missile. All around, for hundreds of meters, the windows are blown out, the walls are marked with impacts, some car wrecks are smoking… Floodlights illuminate the square, where a children's play area is set up. Rescue workers and civilians continue to evacuate residents surprised by the explosion, and whose bodies are lacerated with shards of glass. Some are seriously injured. Cries of pain pour through the blown windows and echo throughout the neighborhood. On the top floors, a woman in her apartment screams while a grandmother has a serious leg injury and a young woman lies limp in the bathroom. The neighborhood is in shock. Some residents fall and are picked up by their loved ones. Others cry out their pain and their incomprehension. It will take several hours for rescuers to count the victims. Results: 12 dead and more than 90 injured.

As is Orthodox tradition, Anastasia's funeral took place three days after the tragedy, on Wednesday, November 20. Many made the trip to say goodbye to the teenager, who returned to her hometown a year ago after fleeing to France at the start of the invasion launched by Russia, on February 24, 2022. There are her comrades there neighborhood and college, teenagers with serious and defeated faces. The same goes for his loved ones, his family, most of whom hold candles. Two coins were placed on Anastasia's closed eyes. Flowers cover the deceased. The men of the Church sing funeral songs and spread incense to sanctify the final resting place.

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