On October 29, Russian forces launched a missile strike on the center of Chernihiv, resulting in the deaths of two 15-year-old girls, both students at Chernihiv Lyceum No. 1. According to preliminary data, a 'Banderol' type missile was fired at the city. The strike hit a busy part of the city where many people were present at the moment of the attack. Initial reports mentioned one casualty, but the number of victims and wounded steadily increased throughout the day.

Two students, two paths in sports

As reported by Chernihiv Lyceum No. 1, the deceased were Yana Peshkova and Maria Mozgovaya. Both girls studied at the same school and dedicated their free time to sports and arts. The school expressed condolences to the families and assured that the memory of the girls would remain with the collective. 'During the enemy attack on Chernihiv (October 29, - ed.), two of our students died — Yana Peshkova and Maria Mozgovaya,' the school's statement read.

Yana Peshkova: 'Our little angel'

Yana Peshkova was a professional rhythmic gymnast and a trainee at the Magic Sports RG studio. In the collective where she trained, the girl is remembered as 'bright, sincere, and smiling.' 'She was only 15 years old. She was part of our sports family, a girl who had a whole life ahead of her, so many dreams, plans, and happy moments,' the studio wrote. They added: 'It is impossible to accept that the child is no longer with us... Our Yana is our little angel.' According to the team, the October 29 missile strike on the center of Chernihiv 'brutally cut her life short.'

Maria Mozgovaya: 'You are forever in our hearts'

Maria Mozgovaya was a dancer and a student at the Vita Dance studio. The group described her as a 'bright, kind, and responsive girl.' 'This is an incredible loss for the entire collective. We love you, you are forever in our hearts,' the dancers conveyed. The studio confirmed the death of their student and expressed condolences to her family and friends.

Scale of destruction and casualty count

Throughout October 29, the number of casualties resulting from the strike on Chernihiv steadily grew. As of 2:44 PM, it was known that there were 23 wounded, including four children — the youngest of whom is 10 months old. Eleven people were taken to city hospitals, and four others received medical assistance on the spot. As a result of the explosion, fires broke out in shops, which were subsequently extinguished by rescuers. Business properties, residential buildings, and parked cars suffered damage. SES psychologists provided support to 17 people, including four children.

Context: Other attacks on October 29 and the overall picture

On the same day, October 29, Russian forces attacked the railway station in Dnipro, resulting in the deaths of passengers. Late in the evening, power outages occurred in Dnipro. The Chernihiv tragedy fits into a series of strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukrainian cities: on October 7, as a result of a missile attack on Pryluky, according to Ukrainian authorities, 16 people died, including four children, and 55 others were injured. Thus, over the last three weeks, the October attacks have claimed the lives of dozens of civilians, including minors.