In a tragic incident in Zaporizhzhia, three generations of a Ukrainian family - Yuliia Tarasevych’s daughter, granddaughter, and great-grandson - were killed in a Russian bombing. The ongoing war continues to take an emotional toll on the people of Ukraine, as families bear the weight of loss while advocating for resistance against aggression.
The Heartbreaking Toll of War: A Family’s Tragic Loss in Zaporizhzhia
The Heartbreaking Toll of War: A Family’s Tragic Loss in Zaporizhzhia
A Ukrainian family suffers the devastating consequences of conflict as three generations are lost in a single bombing strike.
In the quiet cemetery of Zaporizhzhia, teddy bears dot the grave of 17-month-old Adam Buhayov. Alongside him lie his mother, Sophiia Buhayova, 27, and his great-grandmother, Tetiana Tarasevych, 68. The three generations fell victim to an airstrike carried out by Russian forces on November 7, 2022, amidst the ongoing conflict that has ravaged Ukraine for more than a year.
Yuliia Tarasevych recalls the last moments captured on her mother’s phone—a video of a walk with little Adam, who was bundled up in a red jacket, blissfully unaware of the horrors surrounding him. Just an hour after that tender moment, a guided bomb devastated their apartment, claiming not only their lives but also the lives of six other civilians.
Grief consumes Yuliia as she stands by the graves of her loved ones. “I don’t know how to live,” she confesses, weighed down by the loss of her mother, daughter, and grandson. She finds some solace in visiting their resting places, even as she reflects on the grim expansion of graves nearby—the cemetery continuously growing with each bombing and conflict-related death.
Zaporizhzhia, a strategically critical city near the front lines, has become a frequent target for Russian military operations. On that fateful day, Yuliia was away on a work trip. Concerned for her family, she had called Sophiia ahead of the attack, urging her to stay safe amid reports of escalating bombings. The reassurance of her daughter—“don’t worry”—was tragically misplaced, as they lost contact shortly thereafter.
Serhiy Lushchay, Yuliia’s husband and a father who was devastated by the news, recalls his desperate attempts to find his family among the debris. The heart-wrenching reality set in as he realized there was no hope left; all that remained was rubble.
As days passed, he managed to recover remnants of their lives—a cherished china cup, a toy fish, and Adam’s precious red jacket. These items now serve as bittersweet mementos of a once joyful family life, filled with walks and shared laughter.
Though Yuliia had initially sought safety in the UK for Sophiia, the pull of home was too strong. Sophiia returned to Ukraine, embracing her role as mother after giving birth to Adam in June 2023, while pursuing her studies in psychology to support others amid the turmoil.
In the depths of her sorrow, Yuliia recognizes the shifting global narrative around the war, especially as political figures like President Trump advocate for negotiations with Russia. Both Yuliia and Serhiy vehemently oppose any talks that could undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, asserting that the nation must continue to resist aggression. “If we leave this glutton [Putin] with our territories…we will never win,” Yuliia asserts.
With the world’s attention waning, Yuliia hopes that memories of the conflict remain alive, particularly as families like hers continue to suffer. “I want them to know the names—Adam Buhayov, Sophiia Buhayova, and Tetiana Tarasevych,” she pleads, asking for acknowledgment of their loss amid a war that has taken so much from her and countless others in Ukraine.
