fbpx
Photo 18:59 01 Nov 2023

10-year-old boy climbs Ukraine's tallest statue to send letter to his father killed in missile attack

Фото: Національному музеї історії України у Другій світовій війні

A 10-year-old son of a fallen Ukrainian soldier climbed to Ukraine's tallest statue of Mother Ukraine in Kyiv to send him "a letter to heaven", the linked National History Museum says in its press release.

Ivan and his six-year-old sister Sofia lost their father last spring. Soldier Oleksandr Yarmolenko died in a Russian missile strike on the Desna training center on May 17, 2022.

Children believe that their dad is in heaven, and to deliver a letter to him, it is necessary to send it from the highest possible point – the monument "Mother Ukraine," about which dad once told little Ivan, the press release says.

хлопчик піднявся на Батьківщину-матір

Photo: National History Museum of Ukraine

Ivan's father promised him that they would climb the monument together when the boy grows up, as only adults can climb to the highest point of the statue.

хлопчик піднявся на Батьківщину-матір

Photo: National History Museum of Ukraine

To fulfill Ivan's dream, the organization of Ukrainian widows turned to the War Museum. The general director of the museum, Yurii Savchuk, responded and made an exception to the rule for the boy. He also personally arranged for Ivan to climb the monument.

хлопчик піднявся на Батьківщину-матір

Photo: National History Museum of Ukraine

Climbing the observation deck located on the statue's shield at an altitude of 92 meters, Ivan read a letter to his father. And then – launched it into the sky with balloons.

хлопчик піднявся на Батьківщину-матір

Photo: National History Museum of Ukraine

хлопчик піднявся на Батьківщину-матір

Photo: National History Museum of Ukraine

хлопчик піднявся на Батьківщину-матір

Photo: National History Museum of Ukraine

If you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.

Spelling error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: