Ukraine war: Father pays tribute to wife and two children killed as they fled Irpin | World News

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A grieving father has paid tribute to his wife and two children who were killed by Russian forces as they fled the Ukrainian city of Irpin.

Serhiy Perebyynis shared images of Tatiana Perebyynis and their children Alise and Nikita on Facebook and wrote “forgive me, I didn’t cover you”.

Mr Perebyynis also shared a photo of the family’s two dogs – one of which was killed in the attack.

It has not been confirmed but the mother and two children are reported to be the three people who were pictured lying dead on a roadside after Russian forces began shelling the small city near Kyiv on 6 March.

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Image: Tatiana Perebyynis and her two children are believed to be the three people pictured lying dead on a roadside in Irpin

The road was reported to be within a humanitarian corridor where a ceasefire had been agreed with Moscow to allow civilians to safely leave the city.

Mr Perebyynis wrote on Facebook: “He took them all. Tanya couldn’t make it.

“I must see you one last time. Forgive me, I didn’t cover you.”

Mr Perebyynis had earlier posted a photograph of his two dogs to see if anyone could help find them after the attack.

He wrote: “Friends, I will fight for all members of my family. Hoping for a miracle. In case someone has seen, knows. After all there were many witnesses.”

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Image: Serhiy Perebyynis has paid tribute to his family after they were killed by Russian forces

Mr Perebyynis later confirmed one of the dogs had died while another was found in a clinic after being rescued by a journalist.

Mrs Perebyynis’ friend Irina Nedava has also paid tribute to the family on Facebook.

She wrote: “Our friend… her children – Nikita and Alise, the godfather and the godparents of my Polinochka were covered with mortar fire, leaving Irpen on the humanitarian corridor… Tanya did not dare to leave her home for so long , because her parents are sick: dad is a cardiologist and mum is in a wheelchair with Alzheimer’s disease.

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“Tanya was their last hope and support! What will happen to them?”

She added: “I can’t convey my emotions, my hands are shaking from anger and dripping tears at the same time! We will never forget anything! In loving memory of our loved ones!”

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Image: Mr Perebyynis posted this image of his two dogs as he tried to locate them after the attack

The software company SE Ranking, where Mrs Perebyynis worked as an accountant, wrote on Facebook: “There are no words to describe our grief or to mend our pain. But for us, it is crucial to not let Tania and her kids Alise and Nikita remain just statistics.

“Her family became the victim of the unprovoked fire on civilians, which under any law is a crime against humanity.

“The Russian army are criminals, and they should be stopped.

“Our hearts are broken. Our prayers are for all Ukrainians, who are fighting for their right to exist.”

It comes as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the responsible international community will be for a mass “humanitarian catastrophe” if it does not agree a no-fly zone to protect his country.

In a daily televised address, he said the threat level in Ukraine was at a maximum nearly two weeks into Russia’s invasion, but Ukrainians had shown they would never give in.

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