<div class="" data-article-body="true"><h3 class="mb-4 text-lg font-bold">NEED TO KNOW</h3><ul class="mb-4"><li class="ml-4 list-disc"><div class=""><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">An interpreter started to cry while sharing an 11-year-old boy's testimony at the European Parliament in Brussels</p></div></li><li class="ml-4 list-disc"><div class=""><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">"Sorry, I am a bit emotional as well,” the woman said in an moment captured on film</p></div></li><li class="ml-4 list-disc"><div class=""><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The child has become a symbol of the Russia-Ukraine War and met three times with the late Pope Francis</p></div></li></ul><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">An interpreter broke down in tears while translating an 11-year-old Ukrainian boy’s testimony about his mother’s death in a Russian missile strike.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Recently, Roman Oleksiv testified at the European Parliament in Brussels of his last moments with his mother before she was killed by Russian forces in central Ukraine in 2022.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">In footage that has since by shared across the globe, an interpreter became so emotional while translating for the young boy that she struggled to continue.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">“Hello to everybody, my name is Roman, I am 11 years old, I’m from Ukraine, and I’m now living in Lviv,” the interpreter began after Oleksiv introduced himself to the audience, according to video shared by the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cgl6glyxnryo" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:BBC;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">BBC</a> and <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/ukraine-interpreter-cries-european-parliament-russia-war-b2883186.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:The Independent;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">The Independent</a>.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">“On the 14th of July 2022… Sorry, I am a bit emotional as well,” the woman said as she stopped to use a tissue before continuing to speak on behalf of the boy.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">However, when Oleksiv spoke calmly in Ukrainian about "the last time I saw my mother," the interpreter paused and shook her head as her eyes filled with tears.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">“I will help you, no worries,” a man off-camera told the interpreter, before translating the child’s statements.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Visibly still emotional, the woman put her hands on the little boy’s shoulder and then nodded her head at him to continue.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Oleksiv has become a symbol of the carnage of the war in Ukraine, which began when <a href="https://people.com/politics/everything-to-know-ukraine-war-russian-invasion/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Russia invaded;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Russia invaded</a> the smaller country in February 2022.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Since then, more than one 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, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/jun/22/one-million-and-counting-russian-casualties-hit-milestone-in-ukraine-war" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:The Guardian;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link "><em>The Guardian</em></a> reported in June.</p><figure class="relative mb-4"><div class="relative"><img alt="Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty&amp;nbsp; Pope Francis meeting with Roman Oleksiv in Rome in May 2024." loading="lazy" width="960" height="640" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/R6HPP7mcaSr2WU09xrsuUA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/e7f262ce9c56c469e38fe4633efcd71d"><button aria-label="View larger image" class="group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent" data-ylk="elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;"><span class="absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none"><svg viewbox="0 0 22 22" aria-hidden="true" class="size-4 lg:size-6" width="22" height="22"><path d="M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z"></path></svg></span></button><dialog aria-label="Modal Dialog" aria-modal="true" class="fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden"></dialog></div><figcaption class="relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5"><div style="max-height:none;overflow:visible"><p>Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty </p> Pope Francis meeting with Roman Oleksiv in Rome in May 2024.</div></figcaption></figure><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">When the Ukrainian hospital was hit in the summer of 2022, Oleksiv suffered dangerous burns. In total, <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2025-02/unbroken-kids-alliance-roman-ukraine-victims-war-pope-francis.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:28 people died;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">28 people died</a>, including his mother, and more than 200 were injured, according to the Vatican's news service.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Following the devastating strike, Oleksiv met with the <a href="https://people.com/tag/pope-francis/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Pope Francis;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Pope Francis</a> three times as part of the “Alliance Unbroken Kids” before the leader of the Catholic Church’s death.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Oleksiv, an aspiring ballroom dancer, had to undergo multiple surgeries after the bombing. He was later featured in an award-winning short film, <em>Romchyk</em>, which was shot by students at Goldsmiths, University of London, the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxe10kgvq4o" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:BBC;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">BBC</a> reported. The film was later shown to the Pope during the Vatican's International Summit on Children's Rights, according to the outlet.</p><figure class="relative mb-4"><div class="relative"><img alt="REUTERS/Roman Baluk Oleksiv at a ballroom dance competition in Lviv, Ukraine in December 2023." loading="lazy" width="960" height="640" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1.Q2tx2tDup6z.48OcXg0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/c41b98a8a2dbc234899649a6cbc1c1a6"><button aria-label="View larger image" class="group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent" data-ylk="elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;"><span class="absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none"><svg viewbox="0 0 22 22" aria-hidden="true" class="size-4 lg:size-6" width="22" height="22"><path d="M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z"></path></svg></span></button><dialog aria-label="Modal Dialog" aria-modal="true" class="fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden"></dialog></div><figcaption class="relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5"><div style="max-height:none;overflow:visible"><p>REUTERS/Roman Baluk</p> Oleksiv at a ballroom dance competition in Lviv, Ukraine in December 2023.</div></figcaption></figure><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words"><strong>Never miss a story — sign up for <a href="https://forms.dotdashmeredith.com/people-news-inline" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">PEOPLE's free daily newsletter</a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.</strong></p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Kostiantyn Bidnenko was inspired to create the film after he read an article about the injured child, who dreams of becoming a professional dancer.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">He told the BBC, "For me, he became a symbol of all children who suffer because of war.”</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Read the original article on <a href="https://people.com/interpreter-cries-11-year-old-testifies-moms-missile-strike-death-11867873" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">People</a></p></div>

Roman Oleksiv was seriously injured and his mother died when Russian missiles struck a hospital in central Ukraine in 2022

Interpreter Starts Sobbing as 11-Year-Old Testifies About Last Time He Saw His Mom Before She Was Killed in Missile Strike

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