Nataliia Khodemchuk, the widow of the first Soviet engineer to die in the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, was killed on Friday during a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv. Her husband, Valerii, died nearly forty years ago when reactor number four exploded at the Chornobyl plant. He was the only worker whose body was never recovered; as a pump operator in the main hall, his remains are still buried in the rubble.
After the 1986 explosion, Nataliia was evacuated from her home in Pripyat and resettled in an apartment on Kyiv’s left bank. On Friday, a drone struck her building—known as Chornobyl house—on Honoré de Balzac Street in the Troieshchyna district. She suffered burns over 45% of her body and later died in the hospital. The attack claimed six other lives.
The apartment block is also home to other former Chornobyl workers, including Oleksiy Ananenko, who famously helped prevent a second explosion by diving into a tank beneath the reactor.
Ukraine’s state agency for exclusion zone management noted that Nataliia had been scheduled to participate in a photoshoot commemorating the 40th anniversary of the disaster. The agency praised her resilience, saying she endured the Chornobyl tragedy, raised her children alone, and lived with dignity and quiet strength. They described her as cheerful and inspiring, adding that her death now joins the voices of all innocent Ukrainians killed by Russian aggression.
Nataliia and Valerii met in the 1970s in Pripyat’s canteen, where she worked as a salesperson. They had two children, a son named Oleh and a daughter, Larysa. In the immediate aftermath of the Chornobyl explosion, she searched for her husband at the plant’s medical unit and morgue before being evacuated with her children, carrying only small bags for what they thought would be three days but turned out to be forever.
Journalist Tamara Khrushch, who interviewed Chornobyl survivors for a documentary, expressed shock at Nataliia’s death, noting that many survivors have been made homeless again by Russian attacks. She mentioned that Nataliia had pre-existing health issues from the 1986 accident.
In recent months, Russia has intensified its aerial assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing frequent blackouts across the country, including in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to allies for enhanced air defense systems, reporting that Russia launched nearly 1,000 attack drones, 980 guided bombs, and 36 missiles in the past week alone. Overnight strikes also targeted Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the Russian drone strike in Kyiv that killed the widow of a Chornobyl engineer designed with clear natural questions and direct answers
Basic Information The Event
Q1 What exactly happened in this drone strike
A A Russian drone hit an apartment building in Kyiv killing a woman who was the widow of an engineer who worked at the Chornobyl nuclear plant
Q2 Who was the woman who was killed
A She was the widow of a Chornobyl engineer Her name was often reported as Lidia though full details may be limited She had already lived through the trauma of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster and the loss of her husband
Q3 When and where did this attack occur
A The strike happened in the early morning hours in Kyiv the capital of Ukraine The specific date was reported in late 2023early 2024
Q4 Why is this specific attack getting so much attention
A It highlights the tragic fullcircle nature of her sufferingfrom the Chornobyl disaster decades ago to the current warand symbolizes the indiscriminate nature of attacks on civilian areas
Context and Deeper Questions
Q5 What was her connection to the Chornobyl disaster
A Her husband was one of the engineers who worked at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Many of these workers often called liquidators risked or lost their lives to contain the 1986 meltdown
Q6 Why is her husband being an engineer significant
A The Chornobyl engineers were on the front lines of the worlds worst nuclear disaster Their work was heroic and their families shared in the trauma and aftermath Her death connects two major tragedies for Ukraine
Q7 What kind of drone was used in this attack
A Reports indicated it was a Shahed drone an Iranianmade kamikaze drone frequently used by Russian forces to attack Ukrainian cities
Q8 Was this a targeted strike on her specifically
A No evidence suggests she was the specific target The attack was part of a broader assault on Kyiv and she was one of the civilian casualties making it a tragic example of collateral damage
Q9 How does this event relate to the larger war
A
