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Bournemouth aid worker footage shows Ukraine hotel missile strike | Bournemouth aid worker footage shows Ukraine hotel missile strike |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Footage from Karol Swiacki showed the aftermath of the attack | Footage from Karol Swiacki showed the aftermath of the attack |
An aid worker said surviving a Russian missile attack on a hotel in Ukraine felt like an "apocalyptic movie". | |
Karol Swiacki, founder of Ukraine Relief in Bournemouth, said he and his team were just leaving dinner when they were caught in the attack on Kryvyi Rih overnight. | |
The strike has killed at least four people and 31 have been injured, according to the city's regional governor. | The strike has killed at least four people and 31 have been injured, according to the city's regional governor. |
The city is Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky's hometown. He is currently attending an EU emergency summit where he has thanked European leaders for their "strong support". | The city is Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky's hometown. He is currently attending an EU emergency summit where he has thanked European leaders for their "strong support". |
Listen: Mr Swiacki said it was a miracle all of his team survived | |
Talking to BBC Radio Solent, Mr Swiacki explained he had travelled to Ukraine to deliver supplies to shelters, orphanages and schools. | |
He has previously won a BBC award for his work providing aid to refugee centres in Ukraine and sent footage of the hotel when the missile hit. | |
He told listeners: "We had a nice dinner together and were planning to go to a school in the morning. | |
"We were about to go to our rooms and the message of the rocket alarm arrived to our friends' Ukrainian phone numbers, 'Immediately go to the shelter, ballistic missile is coming'." | |
'We were in hell' | |
Mr Swiacki said they were about to leave and find safety, but continued. | |
"Big explosions arrived - in one second, the shortest second in my life, everything changed to the nightmare," he explained. | |
"We were running in this dust, we couldn't see, we couldn't breathe - absolute disaster, like the apocalyptic movie, I thought we were in dream. | |
"We got outside and we saw the fire all over people with blood, people dead on the street, we didn't know what to do. We were in hell." | |
The videos sent show Mr Swiacki discovering the van, filled with donations and supplies, crushed under rubble. | |
The strike killed at least four people | The strike killed at least four people |
"It's a miracle we survived," Mr Swiacki said. | |
"We are all thinking this was the message to us not to stop and continue supporting Ukraine. | |
"I think it's our mission to continue and be even stronger than we are. | |
"This war is terrible, a complete nightmare for Ukraine. | |
"I am terrified but happy. | |
"I have experienced this because it will be a mission to the end of my life I think." | |
Mr Swiacki and his team still visited the school they were due to deliver sports equipment to in the morning. | |
"We couldn't give up, we slept for two hours, cleaned our shoes, our clothes - we can't let children be disappointed," he continued. | |
"We gave them hugs, we cannot show them we are weak, they need people from the West so they can stand strong." | |
Mr Swiacki still visited the school they were due to deliver supplies to after the attack | |
Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine's Ministry of Strategic Industries, described the strike as an attack on "a civilian, peaceful hotel". | Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine's Ministry of Strategic Industries, described the strike as an attack on "a civilian, peaceful hotel". |
It has been reported the missile also damaged 13 apartment blocks and 12 shops - it is the second time this hotel has been targeted in five months. | It has been reported the missile also damaged 13 apartment blocks and 12 shops - it is the second time this hotel has been targeted in five months. |
Speaking at the EU emergency summit, President Zelensky told leaders: "During all this period, and last week, you stayed with us. | Speaking at the EU emergency summit, President Zelensky told leaders: "During all this period, and last week, you stayed with us. |
"We are not alone, and these are not just words, we feel it." | "We are not alone, and these are not just words, we feel it." |
You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram. | You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram. |