Posthumous meeting with Yaryna Bazilevich, who was killed by a Russian rocket in Lviv

Yarka, her mother and father, as well as two younger sisters lived on the top floor of a Lviv building on Konovaltsi.

The girl worked as a program manager of the “Lviv – Youth Capital of Europe 2025” Office. She was active, took care of many youth events, often volunteered, had many friends and acquaintances, hobbies and interests.

But on September 4, a Russian rocket destroyed her house and killed her mother, sisters and Yarina herself.

Colleagues and friends of the dead girl call this loss unspeakably great and devastating.

“UP.Zhyttia” visited the work of the young activist and the memorial evening dedicated to Yaryna Bazilevich to get to know the girl. Unfortunately – posthumously.

Office

The “Youth Capital” office is located in the historical tenement house in the very center of Lviv. There are large windows with stained glass patterns, a plasterboard lion – a symbol of Lviv, and 6 more empty tables.

Although only one left forever – Yarchyn. He stands on the left at the entrance. And behind him – shelves with folders full of documentation on activities and events.

In the upper left corner is a multi-colored cap with a propeller on the crown. This is an element of happy management.

“We received this cap when there was an exchange between Lublin, Ghent and Lviv. The purpose of this cap is to raise the fighting spirit of the workers or to make a sad day of one of them a little more cheerful. Every Tuesday, Yarka wore it to the hall meeting. This cap always lightened the atmosphere,” recalls Yuliya Martynyuk, a colleague and communications officer of the “Lviv – Youth Capital of Europe 2025” Office.

On Yarina’s desktop from different sides are several stickers with cats and funny captions. Yulia reads them, but sadness and longing can be heard in her voice. She says that the office used to be bustling and crowded, but now everyone is avoiding a place where there are so many shared memories that are now reminiscent of the pain of loss.

In the closet on the right is an aromatic candle. There were several of these for the entire office, they were made by Yaryna and her colleagues.

Yaryna’s colleagues brought fresh flowers to her desk

Victoria Andreeva

“Yarka was also engaged in developing and promoting various businesses and joint products. For example, part of the proceeds from the sale of these candles was sent to the youth fund. This organization helps young people to realize themselves, to do various projects.” Yulia explains.

She opens the lid on the glass with the candle and inhales the aroma deeply.

“And she also loved reading books. I read so many books on her recommendation. She did everything she could and even more. And an interesting fact about Yaryna: wherever she is, she always has a bag with a bunch of things , and there is a book”– recalls Evelina Petrenko, administrator of the MoloDvizhCenter.

She lowers her eyes and looks at the penultimate shelf behind Yaryna’s desk. There is a book in English. The girls smile sadly.

The book is in the lower compartment near Yarina’s table

Victoria Andreeva

The eve of the tragedy

A few weeks before the tragedy, the team of the network “CREATE!” was actively preparing for the biggest youth event in Lviv – “Molodvizh”. Yaryna was one of the organizers, responsible for many processes and directions.

Colleague Anastasiya Tyshchenko recalls that on the evening of September 3, they gathered with colleagues.

“We sat in the bar, drank beer and chatted, thought about how we would have “Molovdiz”. And Yarka is such an anxious person. This is a good feature of her, because because of her anxiety, she always did everything well. In the evening they still wrote off. Yarka, as always, supported and gave good instructions,” – she says.

And then he adds that on Tuesday evening the organizers also sent polygraphy for printing – banners, badges, programs. Everything had to be ready by the morning of the next day.

Yaryna (second right) with colleagues

photo from the archive

Do not silence messages in work chats in the evening. Colleague Yulia mentions one of the last messages from Yarka. In the afternoon, she picked up pins (broochs) with a lion’s head, a symbol of the youth capital. The team waited a long time for these badges and changed several contractors, Yarka was very worried that these pins would be of poor quality or not at all as expected.

Yaryna took the entire batch of lion pins home in the evening. When the girl looked at them, she jokingly wrote: “It’s not even bad.”

Foam with the head of a lion, which Yaryna took home for dinner on September 3

photo from the archive

“At night, they corresponded with her about Molodvizh, how everything should be and what still needs to be done. At the same time, Yaryna did tasks for work in IT – she developed in this field as well.

Yarka just recently went to the graduation ceremony in gowns and caps. I was very happy that I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science.” – recalls colleague Sasha Mandrysh.

September 4

Residents of Lviv woke up around 4 in the morning due to an air raid alarm. At approximately 6 a.m., the city was rocked by a series of powerful explosions. With the first news, work chats came to life: colleagues asked if everyone was alive.

At 6 in the morning, many girls personally wrote to Yaryna with the question: “Yarka, how are you?”. But they did not receive an answer.

The destroyed floor where Yaryna’s apartment was

Roman Baluk for the Lviv City Council

Yuliya Martyniuk recalls that hope grew at 8 in the morning, when the number of victims was not yet known. A scheduled message from Yarina arrived in the general chat.

“For a moment I believed that everything was fine with her. But it was not she who sent the message…” the girl sighs.

She says that at first she couldn’t remember the number of the house where Yarka lived because of excitement. I asked my friend to find a photo or some information.

“When we found out that a rocket had hit her house, people from all over the city started going to the accident site.

Yarina’s father was pulled out around 8 in the morning, and in an hour the rescuers said that he had fallen at least 6 meters. Then we realized that there was little hope“, Yulia recalls with tears in her eyes.

Yaryna’s father, Yaroslav, is the only survivor in the family from being hit in the house

Roman Baluk for the Lviv City Council

Evelina says that she found out about the death of a colleague when she was going to her house.

“It was a blow that I still cannot believe and cannot recover from. I am in a stupor, because there is no awareness of this fact … death. Yarka is a person who will always be in my heart. And I will miss her very much“, she adds.

The Russians continue to destroy civilians who have never held a weapon in their hands, Yulia says.

“In some very strange way and by a crazy coincidence, this rocket hits exactly the super cool people. In such a family that I can’t even find words. These were people who respected traditions, raised their children in the best possible way; they wanted to change their country for the better“, the girl shares her memories.

Photo of Yarina with the same bright cap from Happy Management

Andriy Pashkovskyi

Memorial for Yaryna and her mother Evgenia

Andriy Pashkovskyi

Organizer Yaryna was often mentioned at Molodvizh

Andriy Pashkovskyi

Yaryna’s younger sister, 7-year-old Emilia, was also killed by the rocket

Andriy Pashkovskyi

Seats were reserved for the Bazilevich family at all events

Andriy Pashkovskyi

Memory of 18-year-old Darina Bazylevych

Andriy Pashkovskyi

An evening of memory

Friends and colleagues decided to organize a commemorative evening for the event that Yaryna prepared so diligently. Short videos of the girl’s memories were broadcast on large screens.

There were many warm and funny memories – about a doll with a broken leg, traveling, buying a rover, and in the background – a video of a young girl smiling, spending time with friends, working.

“Yarynka was a great friend! She made new friends easily, it was always nice to talk to her. You know, there were always interesting stories and events behind that modest smile.

Last year, she came to me for professional advice. It was very nice to realize that your novice (newbie – ed.) has grown into such a responsible, aware person who knows what she wants. I will remember her happy, smiling, satisfied with life“, said Yarinka’s mentor from the pseudo “Mandarinka”.

Many participants of “Moldivzh” stayed for the evening of memory

Andriy Pashkovskyi

Yaryna’s father Yaroslav came to the event

Andriy Pashkovskyi

There were many flowers at the memorial for Yarka, Zhenya’s mother, and Darina and Emilia’s sisters

Andriy Pashkovskyi

Andriy Pashkovskyi

The word “light” was often heard at the open microphone. It was used to describe Yarina and her entire family, and it was often emphasized that this was their characteristic.

The organizers also showed short videos from Telegram that Yaryna recorded for her friends. She shared life moments, successes and failures. With each subsequent video, the feeling arose as if you knew this person and had been friends with him for a long time.

“This is not a personal loss, it is a loss for the whole country. Both Yaryna and her sister Darusia developed and did everything to develop the youth of Ukraine. I wrote this text for two days and it seemed huge to me. But I reread it now and understand, that this is the least that can be said about the Bazilevichs”said one of Daryna’s friends at the commemoration evening.

The participants of “Molodvizh” gathered in a circle

Andriy Pashkovskyi

They sang songs that Yaryna loved with fire

Andriy Pashkovskyi

Singer in memory of Yaryna Bazylevych

Andriy Pashkovskyi

At the end of the evening there was a bonfire and 12 songs that Yarka loved so much. Among them are compositions by Volodymyr Ivasyuk, Scriabin and Nazariy Yaremchuk.

Sorrow and longing were replaced by some kind of hope that flared up inside with every spark. The Bazilevich family united people with common values, which they nurtured in themselves and their children.

The fire warmed, soothed, and the people nearby became closer to each other, despite the fact that there were complete strangers around.

Yaroslav Bazylevych hugs the friends of his eldest daughter Yaryna

Andriy Pashkovskyi

Yaryna’s father Yaroslav and her cousins ​​came to the memorial evening. They saw how many people knew or met their loved ones – Yaryna, Darina, Emilia and Yevgenia – and now they will carry their memory in their hearts.

Victoria Andreeva, UP. Life