Yaroslav Bazylevych is a native of Lviv, whose family has been an integral part of his hometown’s history and culture for generations. 

During yet another shelling of Lviv, a Russian missile claimed the lives of Yaroslav’s entire family: his wife Yevheniia (43) and their three daughters: Yaryna (21), Daria (18), and little Emilia (6). They were in the stairwell, which was completely destroyed by the explosion. Yaroslav himself remained trapped in the half-destroyed apartment. 

He divides his life into two parts “before” and “after.” In an interview he confesses that he has not yet found new meaning in his daily routine.  

Yaroslav is driven by his mission to preserve the memory of his girls. Together with partners, he established a scholarship fund at the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) named after his family, organizes memorial evenings, and raises millions in donations for the military. Yaroslav uses his voice on the international stage - in the Bundestag, The Hague, and Washington to advocate for Ukraine’s interests and testify before Western politicians about russia’s war crimes. 

This article draws on the documentary film "The Power of Love", created to mark the anniversary of the Bazylevych family’s death. Its director, Roksolana Maik, is a classmate and close friend of Daria Bazylevych, the middle daughter of the family.