During a massive Russian attack on Kyiv in the night of November 14, a drone hit a house in Troieshchyna where former Chernobyl NPP workers and their relatives lived. Natalia Romaniivna Khodimchuk lived there – the wife of Valeriy Khodemchuk, who became the first casualty of the Chernobyl disaster. Local witnesses provide information about the incident.
Story of the Deceased and Her Life
“We have lost a woman who endured the Chernobyl hell, lost her husband, raised children, stood firm against tragedies that could break anyone. But not her.”
– DAZV
The result of the strike was a fire in the apartment. Natalia sustained severe burns and was promptly taken to a burn center. On the same day, a friendly delegation from the association “Promin 5/2” visited her – relatives of those who died from radiation sickness after the Chernobyl disaster.
In the night of November 15, Natalia died. She was 73 years old. In the materials it was stated that Natalia Romaniivna lived with dignity, love, and a quiet strength that inspired all who knew her.
“Of course, with love!”
– Natalia Khodimchuk
Also in the materials it was mentioned that on November 25 Mrs. Natalia was to travel with other liquidators to Pripyat for a photo shoot as part of the project “Chernobyl: a Woman’s Fate” for the 40th anniversary of the tragedy. Before the full-scale invasion she visited the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and Kopachi village – the home of her family.
Natalia spoke about life with Valeriy: how they met in the Pripyat cafeteria, where she worked as a saleswoman, and he – they had lunch; how dancing and their life together kept them going. In her stories she remembered him and how after the accident they searched for Valeriy for a long time. Valeriy Khodemchuk’s body was never found.
