An aid worker who narrowly escaped a deadly Russian missile strike on a hotel in central Ukraine described feeling “so lucky to be alive.” Karol Swiacki, a Polish national and the founder of the Bournemouth-based charity Ukraine Relief, was having dinner with friends at the Central Hotel in Kryvyi Rih when the missile hit. Despite the devastation that left at least four people dead, Swiacki and his colleagues survived unscathed. The attack, which wounded 32 people, including two children, took place in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown.
Swiacki, who has previously received a BBC award, was in Ukraine to deliver aid relief work, such as providing sports equipment and renovating a school for 550 children. Accompanied by Marc Edwards, a trustee for Ukraine Relief and a British national living in the US, they were dining with friends when the strike occurred. Among the guests were two US volunteers, two workers from a Ukrainian charity foundation, a young boy, and his pregnant mother. The group had only just arrived at the hotel when the alarm sounded, prompting them to seek shelter immediately.
The missile strike caused chaos and destruction, as described by Swiacki and Edwards. Fortunately, they managed to escape through a broken window with their belongings. Their vehicles, filled with aid supplies, were destroyed in the blast. Tragically, they witnessed fatalities and injuries from the attack, including someone trapped under rubble next to Swiacki’s van. Despite the harrowing experience, Swiacki remains committed to his humanitarian work in Ukraine, vowing never to stop helping those in need.
The incident occurred just before a European security summit being attended by Zelensky. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s defense capabilities in protecting lives from such acts of violence. The resilience of Swiacki and his team in the face of this traumatic event showcases the bravery and dedication of those working to assist communities affected by conflict and disaster
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