Daryna Shygyda, a dedicated police officer in Ukraine, tragically lost her life along with her mother and one-year-old son during a Russian drone attack in Pryluky on June 5. The attack, conducted with a fleet of Shahed drones, has brought the small community to grief and caused US lawmakers to react in anger.
The passing of these young men is shocking, but even more tragic is the loss of Shygyda’s life and future, a message that cannot be overstated. As they wrote, “three generations… there are no words to comfort our hurting hearts.” This startling statement is perhaps the best indication of the destructive severity of the attack. Shygyda’s son has been unfortunately named as the 632nd child murdered by Russian forces. This lost promise is particularly pronounced in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Witnesses said the whole scene was very tragic and chaotic. This drone strike just as tragically cut the lives of Shygyda and her family short. It killed five people and injured nine others. The episode is a reminder of the growing severity and scale of Russia’s aerial attacks. Most notably, Shahed drones have become a defining asset of the conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelensky released a statement of mourning after the death. He called on Ukraine’s western allies to increase their pressure on Moscow in response to such strikes. His remarks served to underscore the critical role that civil society international assistance continues to play in combatting the increasing violence visited upon Ukrainian civilians.
The town of Pryluky has declared two days of mourning in memory of Shygyda and her family. Local governments have mandated that flags be lowered to half-staff. They further demand black flags be flown on all public buildings, mourning the loss and unity of their largely diverse community.
A haunting image of Daryna Shygyda’s baby boy has emerged, illustrating the innocence snuffed out during this catastrophe. The picture shows him walking back to the camera, surrounded by safety and ease. In one final image, his grandma hugs him close—a heartrending evocation of what their relationship used to be, prior to the invasion that ruptured everything.
The tragic death of Daryna Shygyda is an example of the cost of war—a human cost. She gave her life for the very community she served as a police officer. Tragically, she herself fell prey to the same violence she fought so valiantly against. Her death reverberates profoundly in the heart of Ukrainian society, as families all across the country confront the grief of what has become, unfortunately, a common loss.
The firing also begs important questions about accountability for attacks they attack on civilians. Now, as Russia wages a vicious, unprovoked military campaign against the people of Ukraine, demands for accountability and security for innocent lives are mounting.
