**Aid Worker’s Narrow Escape from Russian Missile Attack in Ukraine**
A UK-based aid worker, Karol Swiacki, and his colleagues have spoken out about their harrowing experience after a Russian missile attack on a hotel in central Ukraine left at least four people dead. The incident occurred on Wednesday night in Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown.
Swiacki, who is the founder of the Bournemouth-based charity Ukraine Relief, was having dinner with friends and colleagues at the Central Hotel when the missile struck. Miraculously, they all escaped unharmed, despite being in close proximity to the blast. “We are all safe, we didn’t have a scratch, it’s incredible,” Swiacki told BBC News.
The attack also injured 32 people, including two children, and left many more shaken. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of civilians in Ukraine, particularly with the upcoming European security summit on Thursday.
Swiacki, who is carrying out aid relief work in Ukraine, including delivering sports equipment and renovating a school for 550 children, was joined by his colleague Marc Edwards, a British national who now lives in the US. The two were having dinner with friends at the hotel restaurant when the attack occurred.
“We’d just put our stuff in our rooms and went to eat with our local Ukrainian contacts and the cell phone alarm went off so we ran to the shelter,” Edwards recounted. “We took two steps and there was a big boom, absolute nightmare, everything just within seconds changed into a very apocalyptic scene.”
Video footage sent by Swiacki to the BBC showed smoke filling the restaurant with half-eaten meals and takeaway boxes on tables. The blast also destroyed several vehicles parked outside the hotel, including Swiacki’s van.
“I will never stop helping people after this,” Swiacki said in an interview, despite the shock of the explosion. His determination to continue his aid work is a testament to the resilience of those working to help Ukraine during these difficult times.
**The Impact on Aid Work**
The attack has highlighted the risks faced by aid workers and civilians in Ukraine. As Edwards noted, “Somebody was trapped under the rubble next to our van and didn’t make it. Someone was hit from shrapnel and didn’t make it.” These tragic incidents underscore the need for increased support and protection for those working to help Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reacted to the attack by stating that it showed “why Ukraine needs defense capabilities: to protect human lives from Russian terror.” The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of civilians in Ukraine, particularly with the upcoming European security summit on Thursday.
**Aid Workers’ Resolve Unshaken**
Despite the risks and challenges they face, aid workers like Swiacki remain committed to helping those affected by the conflict. Their selflessness and determination are a beacon of hope for those struggling to survive in war-torn Ukraine.
“We will never stop helping people after this,” Swiacki said firmly. His words echo the resolve of all those working tirelessly to support Ukraine during these trying times.
