Espreso. Global

Volunteer Yurii Hlodan is killed in war: last year Russian forces killed his wife and three-month-old daughter in Odesa

5 November, 2023 Sunday
18:12

On Sunday, November 5, it was confirmed that Yurii Hlodan has been killed in action. He volunteered for the front after his wife, daughter, and mother-in-law were killed by a Russian missile attack on a residential building in Odesa on April 23, 2022.

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Yurii's colleague Oleksandr Yakovenko shared the information on Facebook.

"He was the one who made the famous Easter cakes from our confectionery in Odesa - that day was his first day off, he went to the store, and when he returned, his world was destroyed," Yakovenko said about the day Yurii Hlodan's family died.

On April 23, 2022, a Russian missile destroyed the Tiras residential complex in Odesa. The tragedy took the lives of three-month-old Kira, her mother Valeria, and grandmother Liudmyla.

After losing his family, Yurii joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, first serving in the Azov Brigade, then in the Third Assault Brigade.

Before the full-scale invasion, Yurii Hlodan worked as a baker in a restaurant company in Odesa.

"Today we learned that he died defending his nation. RIP, a man with a big heart," wrote Yurii's colleague Oleksandr Yakovenko.

Text on the screen shot:

  • Оur Yura was found
  • Dead?
  • Identified by a cross 

The Facebook post reads:

“I didn't get to know him closely, but almost every person in Odesa knows this family.

Yurii was a husband, father, fighter, baker and colleague in the Make My Cake project in Odesa, where I am a co-owner. He was the one who made the famous Easter cakes from our confectionery in Odesa - this day was his first day off, he went to the store, and when he returned, his world was destroyed.

On April 23, 2022, the "Russian world" came to his family - a Russian missile destroyed the Tiras residential complex in Odesa.

The tragedy took the lives of three-month-old Kira Hlodan, her mother Valeria and grandmother Liudmyla - this is Yurii's family.

He acted like a decent man of the Ukrainian nation - he joined the Armed Forces, first the Azov Brigade, then the 3rd Assault Brigade. Today I heard that he died defending his country. RIP, a man with a big heart. 

The center of Europe. 21st century. The story of a Ukrainian family.

Update. This information comes from friends and comrades. There is no official report yet. He has been missing since September 12. I ask the media not to contact me.”

Later, the death of the volunteer was confirmed by the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper. 

"On Easter 2022, Russian terrorists killed his family - his three-month-old daughter, wife and mother-in-law. After the terrible loss, Yurii joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Having lost the most precious to him, he died protecting us. Rest in peace the Hero and sincere condolences to his family and friends," the head wrote.

  • On that day, 8 people were killed and 18 injured in Odesa by a Russian missile attack. Among the dead were 28-year-old Valeria, her three-month-old daughter Kira, and her mother.

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