"The 'Death' card fell on my birthday. For several hours, I was running from explosions": the story of a girl from Vyshneve

Instead of a birthday celebration – explosions, evacuation, and a fight for life: a resident of Vyshneve told "Your City" how she survived one of the scariest nights.

22-річна Анна з Вишневого. Фото надане "Твоєму місту"

07 July, 12:00

On the day Anna turned 22, she didn't make wishes or accept congratulations. Instead of a festive morning, the girl ran in pajama pants through a cemetery, climbed over fences, and didn't look back as explosions sounded one after another over Vyshneve. Only later did she realize: it was detonation after a Russian strike.

Anna told her story to "Your City".

"I thought everything was over"

On the night of the massive attack, the girl, like many residents of the city, went down to a shelter. When the danger seemed to have passed, people began to return home.

"We had already come up from the bomb shelter. I also returned to the apartment. And suddenly, detonation began. At first, I thought it was cluster munitions, but the explosions became stronger and stronger. Then I realized it was something completely different," recalls Anna.

She ran into the corridor.

Opposite her neighbor's apartment, the door was already blown out. Everything around was covered in dust. People were running out of the stairwells, not understanding what was happening.

"We all ran downstairs. Only later did we realize that it was detonation."

"I was just running"

Outside, the explosions were getting stronger.

"I can't say I felt anything then. I was just running. Probably, the self-preservation instinct kicked in."

Along with dozens of other people, she ran towards the industrial zone.

Having reached the area near "Nova Poshta" (New Post Office), people realized they were trapped.

"There was a fence in front of us. We started climbing over pipes. Some were barefoot, some almost undressed. Everyone was just trying to get out."

Ahead was a cemetery. But the gate there also turned out to be locked.

"We couldn't get through. If we had gone around, we would have had to go back closer to the explosions. So, the guys found some boards and started breaking down the gate. Eventually, we made an opening and everyone started getting out."

As people ran through the open area, explosions continued to sound above them.

It was then that Anna looked back for the first time.

"I looked back and saw everything exploding in the sky. It was burning, as if everything around was falling from above. I don't even know how to describe it properly."

The girl says she fell to the ground several times on the way.

Only when the danger had receded a little did she realize that she could barely feel her legs.

"I was wearing thin pajama pants, a tank top, and a sweater. Only later did I see that my slippers were torn, and I was walking almost barefoot through bushes and thorns. But I didn't even feel it then."

Return home

After the explosions stopped, Anna returned to her building.

She sustained minor injuries on the way. State Emergency Service employees provided her with medical and psychological assistance on the spot.

The girl still recalls what she saw near her home with pain.

"From the side where the explosions were, only walls practically remained. Everything else was destroyed."

After that, acquaintances helped her leave Vyshneve. Due to the evacuation, she no longer managed to use the organized transport and left the city on foot. Later she reached Sofiivska Borshchahivka, and from there went to her mother in Vinnytsia.

"Donate, donate, and donate again"

After what she went through, Anna says she came to an important conclusion for herself.

"I realized that a shelter may not always save you. If possible, you need to go as deep as possible. If it's Kyiv, it's better to take the subway."

However, she addresses her biggest appeal to Ukrainians in something else entirely.

"Donate. Donate and donate again. Primarily to our military and air defense. Our lives depend on them."

The girl also thanks all the strangers who offered her help after the tragedy.

"People even wrote to me from Lviv, offering shelter. A huge number of people helped me that day. I am incredibly grateful to each of them."

A birthday she will remember forever

Only at the end of the conversation does Anna admit: she turned 22 on that day.

The day before, while working as a tarot reader, she did a symbolic reading for herself.

"I asked the cards what my birthday would be like. The 'Death' card fell out first. I decided not to pay attention to it..."

Instead of celebrating, she received help from rescuers, left her damaged home, and went to her mother in another city.

What is known about the consequences of the Russian attack on July 6

Anna's story is just one of many that the night of the massive Russian attack brought to the Kyiv region.

As of the morning of July 7, the number of people killed in Vyshneve has increased to seven people. During the emergency rescue operations, rescuers unblocked the body of one more person from the rubble.

According to updated data, 26 people were injured, including two children. Medics, psychologists, and rescuers are working continuously at the scene. Psychologists of the State Emergency Service alone have provided assistance to 145 victimswho have suffered the loss of loved ones, destroyed homes, or witnessed explosions.

Throughout the day, nearly 700 rescuers and 161 units of special equipmentwere involved in eliminating the consequences of the Russian strike. Rescuers continue to clear rubble, inspect damaged buildings, and eliminate the consequences of the shelling. Emergency rescue operations will continue.

At the same time, the number of victims across the entire capital region is also increasing. According to the latest data from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, 19 people have already been confirmed dead in Kyiv. Among the victims is a 12-year-old boy, whose life was cut short by a Russian missile.

Due to the scale of the tragedy, it was announced in the capital Day of mourning. State flags were lowered in Kyiv, entertainment events were cancelled, and humanitarian centers were set up in the Darnytsia, Podil, and Obolon districts, where affected individuals can receive psychological assistance, apply for compensation, and find temporary housing.

And while rescuers continue searching for people under the rubble, Anna's story is a reminder: behind every number in the daily reports are specific human lives, destroyed homes, and a day that forever divided life into "before" and "after" for someone.