Anna and her family were killed as they tried to evacuate from Chernihiv

15-year-old Anna Chumak died on 9 March 2022 while trying to evacuate from Chernihiv. At the time, the city was being regularly shelled by the Russian troops. Anna’s uncle took the girl and her mother, as well as their friend’s family from the city. After they had passed the village of Kolychivka, the car they were traveling in was riddled by Russian soldiers. Anna, her mother, uncle and friends were killed right away.

The girl studied in the 10th grade of the Chernihiv School-Lyceum No. 11. Her grandmother Valentyna Chumak says that Anna was very romantic: she loved taking walks outdoors and dreaming. Anna liked to read, draw, embroider, weave beads. And she was always passionate about animals. The girl wanted to evacuate her dog, and he died with her.

“Anechka [а form of the name “Anna” – ed.] dreamed of how she would continue her studies. She wanted to enter a veterinary university to take care of animals, or to get into drawing,” says her grandmother Valentina.

The girl had warm relations with her family: she loved her mother a lot, and she was eager to spend time with her grandmother.

“Anechka was a sunshine for us. I was a happy grandmother with her. She helped me. We went together mushroom hunting, walked by the river. We dreamed, planned, had conversations, and enjoyed life together. I can’t believe that you are not with us anymore. Everything reminds of you: drawings, handmade pieces, your things. Thank you for having been with me. And you are in my memories. You are the best. You and your mother, and your uncle, my son, will always be in our hearts, in our memories, in our prayers,” the grandmother wrote.

Anna is survived by her grandmother, grandfather, aunt, cousins.

The story was prepared by the Memorial. The platform collects stories of servicemen and civilians killed by Russia.