During an emotional moment, an interpreter wept while translating the testimony of an 11-year-old Ukrainian boy, Roman Oleksiv, who spoke about losing his mother in a Russian missile strike.
Roman recently shared his heartbreaking story at the European Parliament in Brussels, recalling his final moments with his mother before Russian forces killed her in central Ukraine in 2022.
In a video by AFP, the interpreter struggled to maintain her composure as the boy described the attack. Overwhelmed, she paused and apologized, saying, “Sorry, I’m a bit emotional as well.”
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Introducing himself, Roman said, “Hello to everybody, my name is Roman, I am 11 years old, I’m from Ukraine, and I’m now living in Lviv.”
Roman bore visible scars on his face and head, including burn marks and a bald patch, likely from the airstrike.
He recounted, “I was in Vinnytsia hospital with my mama when the bomb hit. It was the last time I saw my mom. It was the last time I could say goodbye.”
Watch the video shared by AFP below:
As Roman spoke, the camera captured another woman in the room quietly shedding tears. The interpreter, visibly distressed, briefly lowered her head to regain composure before continuing.
Seeing her struggle, a colleague off-camera reassured her, offering help and translating Roman’s words into English. The interpreter wiped her tears with a tissue and stayed quiet for a moment, visibly moved by Roman’s account.
The boy also appeared emotional, breathing heavily. The interpreter gently placed her hand on his shoulder, encouraging him to continue, silently supporting him as he shared his story.
Who is Roman Oleksiv?
Roman Oleksiv has become a poignant symbol of the devastation in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country in February 2022.
After the tragic strike, Oleksiv met with Pope Francis three times as part of the “Alliance Unbroken Kids” before the Pope’s passing.
Aspiring ballroom dancer Roman underwent multiple surgeries after the bombing and was featured in an award-winning short film, Romchyk, produced by Goldsmiths, University of London students. The film was presented to the Pope at the Vatican’s International Summit on Children’s Rights, according to BBC reports.
Since the invasion, over a million Russian troops have been killed or injured, while Ukraine has lost between 60,000 and 100,000 troops, with total casualties nearing 400,000, reported The Guardian in June.
