"When the shelling started, the children ran to save us. Then an explosion occurred!"

Liubov Ivanivna Viazova, 67 years old:

On 19 July 2017, my husband died. The funeral happened on 20 July, and the children were injured on 21 July.

My eldest daughter and I went to pick some grass for the geese. The children stayed at home. When the shelling started, the children ran to save us.

We ran and saw that  Neighbour's house was hit. I said, "Lena, run. Shelling has begun." We ran and saw that the children... We reached the gate. We barged into them. We heard this terrible howling sound. Vania reacted very quickly. He started shouting, "Ania, lie down!" So he pulled her hand like this and covered her with his body.

At that time, something exploded in our neighbour's house or in their yard. I don't know. And… Ania, the eldest daughter, was wounded in the leg and arm. There were many fragments. She still has a fragment in her thigh. Doctors left it there. Vania had multiple shoulder wounds. Vania saved her life.

It all happened before our eyes. I didn't expect that something like this would happen during the day. We were usually fired in the evening or in the morning. That day they started firing in broad daylight.

Little Tamara was at home with her parents. She lives across the street. There was also a four-month old baby. So she was looking after him that day. And when the shelling began, she jumped out on the threshold. Another mine exploded at that time.    It was a direct hit in her stomach.

We called an ambulance. They said, “We will not come because of the shelling." We will send the military, though, to come and pick you up." Deputy military administrator arrived in an armored car and picked up three children and the father with the little daughter.

They received medical care instantly. The girl had a fragment in her thigh, and the boy's shoulder was wounded. Doctors couldn't get them — they were too deep. They feared that might affect the bone.

Doctors said that Tamara was so lucky. The fragment was stuck in the elastic of his panties. And if it weren't for this rubber band, it would have punctured her bladder.

I really appreciate what Rinat Akhmetov does for people in need. He sends us food products, not only to us, to Marinka. We live on line of demarcation, within the fire zone. We receive food every two-three months.

We got to Odessa from here. , We were offered to go on vacation with the children. I said, "Of course, we will go." I really like travelling, so I was really excited about it. I didn't see the city even though it was my dream to visit Odessa. Finally, it came true.

My younger daughter called recently. She said, "Mother, I think that this horror is starting again, like it was in 2014. They bombed us brutally, day and night." It is so scary. I managed to forget about all this horror for a week. I finally could sleep safe and sound. Before that, there were times when we had to stay awake just in case we will have to run and hide in the basement when an attack starts.

We really need rehabilitation. The children like it. It is so great that there are indifferent people who take care of the children who need it. We are happy to be supported like this.