After her father was killed in Mariupol, 12-year-old Kira Obedinska narrowly survived a strike on the basement where she had been sheltering with other children and adults from russian bombardments. Later, while leaving the besieged city, the girl stepped on a tripwire mine and was injured.

Kira was taken from occupied Mariupol to Donetsk and was later being prepared for transfer to a russian orphanage. Her grandfather, Oleksandr Obedinskyi – the father of the late water polo player Yevhen Obedinskyi – managed to bring his granddaughter back to Ukraine in May 2022. Representatives of the authorities, the Office of the President, international organisations and volunteers became involved in the rescue effort, as at that time there was effectively no mechanism for the return of deported children.

For several years now, Kira and Oleksandr Obedinskyi have travelled around the world, speaking about the tragedy faced by children during the war. They also tell the story of Yevhen Obedinskyi – a member of the Ukrainian national water polo team who was killed during the siege of the city.

The athlete’s portrait was commemorated on Vladyslav Heraskevych’s new “Helmet of Remembrance”, dedicated to 22 Mariupol athletes who lost their lives. This helmet is a symbol of remembrance for Ukrainian athletes whose lives, careers and futures were taken away by russia’s war against Ukraine.