An entire family wiped out by Putin: Yuriy Glodan was out buying groceries when a Russian cruise missile struck killed his baby daughter, wife and her mother. Then he lost his life in a front-line drone attack

Final summer time, Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Woman, instructed me one thing that saddened her to the depths of her soul. Of all of the tragedies to befall her stricken nation for the reason that battle started, one ranked in her thoughts above all others.

It was the story of how three generations of a single household – grandmother, daughter and granddaughter – had been obliterated one Saturday morning in April 2022 when a Russian cruise missile hit their condominium block in Odesa. 

Mrs Zelenska did not discuss with the household by title however after our interview I resolved to be taught extra about them, and, specifically, the person who by likelihood escaped the missile that day however in doing so misplaced every thing he liked most on the planet.

That man was 30-year-old Yuriy Glodan, as soon as a gifted scholar who gave up a promising profession as a lawyer to turn into a chef and baker, famend for making the most effective croissants in Odesa. 

On April 23, he had a time off work when, after going to the retailers, he returned to search out that the missile had ripped by way of the decrease flooring of his constructing.

Pushing previous police on the entrance, he ran contained in the burning constructing and, reaching what remained of their flat on the fourth ground, frantically clawed by way of the rubble.

He discovered the physique of his 28-year-old spouse Valeria, the lady he known as ‘good… a present from God’ and his mother-in-law Lyudmila, however there was no hint of his three-month-old daughter Kira, whose start had been ‘the happiest day’ of his life.

Hope conquered cause and he thought maybe a miracle had spared her. However he was improper. She was later discovered by an emergency employee.

Child Kira’s grandmother Liudmila, who was killed alongside Kira and her younger mom Valeria

Yuriy and Valeria married in 2019. The couple met at Odesa Nationwide Regulation Academy

Afterwards, he spoke to his mom. ‘He instructed me that his household not existed,’ stated 52-year-old Nina Glodan. ‘I am unable to think about what he should have seen together with his personal eyes.’

On the funeral, Yuriy tried exhausting to remain sturdy. However no one who bore witness to his ache that day will overlook the best way he out of the blue dissolved and flung himself ahead, urgent his cheek towards Kira’s tiny amber casket.

Within the months after the bloodbath, Yuriy was inconsolable.

‘He misplaced part of himself and he misplaced the aim for all times,’ stated his mom.

Crystallising in his thoughts, although, was the idea that he should take up arms. Not simply out of revenge – he had known as Putin a terrorist – however to defend his nation and its individuals.

And so, towards the desires of his mother and father who felt a horrible foreboding, the previous lawyer joined the third Assault Brigade on March 1, 2023, insisting he needed to be an infantry soldier combating on the entrance line.

Certainly one of his new comrades, Dmytro Hudz, a boxing coach, was additionally from Odesa and had heard the tragic story of the bombed condominium block however was unaware of Yuriy’s connection. 

‘To start out with, Yuriy was not very talkative. He all the time appeared nervous, agitated, burdened,’ Dmytro instructed me.

Then, in the future on the entrance line in japanese Ukraine, Yuriy opened up in regards to the tragedy. Dmytro responded by giving him a hug and so they quickly grew to become the most effective of associates. 

After graduating, Yuriy grew to become a solicitor, whereas Valeria labored in public relations

The pair shared many hobbies together with journey, pictures and a love of museums

Yuriy pictured together with his spouse, Valeria, and Lyudmila Yavkina, who additionally died within the assault

Lyudmila Yavkina pictured together with her child granddaughter, Kira Glodan earlier than their deaths 

Yuriy and Valeria on their marriage ceremony day in 2019 together with his mother and father, Yuriy Senior and Nina Glodan

‘After I acquired to know him, I discovered he was a good, open, sort, loyal, attentive man,’ he stated. Regardless of having no navy expertise, Yuriy quickly grew to become a talented soldier.

‘It was attention-grabbing to look at how Yuriy grew right into a warrior,’ stated Dmytro. ‘He was such a superb shot that he was thought-about for sniper coaching.’

In the summertime of 2023, Yuriy was concerned within the battle for the japanese metropolis of Bakhmut, the longest and bloodiest of the battle. Russia had been attempting to seize it for months, however Ukraine was decided to not give floor.

From every brutal skirmish Yuriy all the time managed to emerge unscathed. A lot of his comrades believed that, resulting from a mix of intuition and luck, he would by no means be killed or injured. 

‘He saved quite a lot of lives in fight, dragging a number of wounded comrades to security. He was additionally good at giving medical assist and he all the time had a knack of avoiding shells,’ Dmytro stated.

However his mother and father’ best worry was realised on September 12 that yr when, in an appalling postscript to an already tragic story, Yuriy’s luck lastly failed him.

‘He thought a miracle would save Kira. He was improper’.

At first, they had been instructed he was lacking, feared useless. He was final seen attaching a tourniquet to an harm, earlier than rolling right into a shell crater for security, solely to be intentionally focused by a Russian drone. 

Nevertheless, it was not till October 30 that Yuriy’s decomposed physique could possibly be recovered from the battlefield and never till the next January that DNA checks provided remaining affirmation.

A while earlier than their first baby was born, Yuriy gave up his function as a solicitor and accepted a job with the bakery Make My Cake

The previous lawyer joined the third Assault Brigade on March 1, 2023, insisting he needed to be an infantry soldier combating on the entrance line

On September 12 2023, Yuriy died on the battlefield in a front-line drone assault

Yuriy’s father stated: ‘We had been determined with grief. He was the most effective son anybody might have needed. All my associates had been jealous that I had such an exquisite son. He set an instance to others. I used to be so happy with him.’

Mr Glodan and his spouse shared their reminiscences of ‘a sort, considerate, candy boy, who was additionally a pacesetter’ and ‘all the time surrounded by associates who seemed as much as him’.

After leaving college, he gained a spot on the prestigious Odesa Nationwide Regulation Academy, the place he met his future spouse.

‘Valeria was sensible – an clever younger lady and in addition, like our son, very sort. It was love at first sight – they had been simply made for one another,’ Mrs Glodan stated. They shared many hobbies together with journey, pictures and a love of museums.

After graduating, Yuriy grew to become a solicitor, whereas she labored in public relations. Their dwelling was a one-bedroom flat in Odesa and Valeria’s mom, Lyudmila, lived in an even bigger, two-bedroom flat close by.

After relationship for 5 years, the couple married in a civic ceremony in August 2019 in entrance of 40 visitors. ‘It was a magical day,’ stated Mrs Glodan.

A while earlier than their first baby was born, Yuriy gave up his function as a solicitor. His love of cooking went again to his scholar days and he determined to make his ardour his vocation, accepting a job with the bakery Make My Cake. Kira was born on January 4, 2022, lower than two months earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine.

‘Kira was the centre of his universe,’ stated Mrs Glodan. Her husband added: ‘He adored her and he needed to be the very best father to handle her.’

Yuri’s father (pictured with spouse Nina) stated they had been ‘determined with grief’ 

Yuri’s mother and father described him as ‘an instance to others’ saying ‘all [their] associates had been jealous that [they] had such an exquisite son’ 

Yuriy was finally buried subsequent to his spouse and daughter within the city of Avangard, close to Odesa, the place the couple had hoped to construct a household dwelling

Whereas many Ukrainians shortly fled their nation, the Glodans had been satisfied there would quickly be peace and every thing would return to regular. With a seven-week-old child making journey tough, the couple stayed in Odesa.

When the assaults on the town intensified, they spent a month dwelling with associates who had a basement bunker, the place they may all shelter through the bombings. Nevertheless, by late April 2022, with fewer Russian assaults, the Glodans and their daughter determined to maneuver into the larger flat belonging to Valeria’s mom.

It was there, on the fourth-floor, that the three generations had been dwelling on April 23, 2022, when the missile struck.

Yuriy was finally buried subsequent to his spouse and daughter within the city of Avangard, close to Odesa, the place the couple had hoped to construct a household dwelling. ‘He liked his household and would have needed to be near them in loss of life,’ stated his mom.

Dmytro, 36, who has now left the military, nonetheless visits his pal’s grave each weekend. ‘I’ve the warmest, fondest reminiscences of Yuriy,’ he stated. ‘He wasn’t only a comrade: he was like a brother to me. He was an exquisite character with an internal mild and a giant coronary heart.’

‘Everybody blames one man for the tragedy: Putin’

Artem Syritka, 33, a building supervisor who met Yuriy and Valeria after they had been all college students and who attended their marriage ceremony and Yuriy’s funeral, stated of his shut pal: ‘He was actually cool. He all the time stood out as a result of he was a pacesetter. All of us felt we had been underneath his wing and he helped us turn into males who all seemed out for one another.

‘Yuriy and Valeria complemented one another – they had been so well-suited and so they liked one another very a lot.’

Nina shares the heartbreaking story of how her beloved son Yuriy died

Pictured: Yuriy (Senior), Nina, Lord Ashcroft on the grave the place Yuriy Glodan is buried

In Odesa, there’s a avenue that has been named in reminiscence of the Glodan household and there are different memorials for them in south-east Ukraine, too

Yuriy, Valeria and Kira won’t ever be forgotten. In Odesa, there’s a avenue that has been named in reminiscence of the Glodan household and there are different memorials for them in south-east Ukraine, too.

Everybody near the household blames one man for the tragedy: Vladimir Putin. Mrs Glodan stated of the Russian chief: ‘He must be accountable for every thing he has performed, all of the distress he has prompted to our household and to many different households too. No matter how this battle ends, he must be introduced in entrance of a world court docket.’

Greater than a yr after her son’s loss of life was confirmed, her grief continues to be uncooked. With tears as soon as once more rolling down her face, she stated: ‘As a mom I nonetheless cannot imagine all this has occurred. Even now, day by day I’m ready for my son to come back dwelling.’

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is a world businessman, philanthropist, writer and pollster. For extra info on his work, go to lordashcroft.com. Comply with him on X/Fb @LordAshcroft.