American James Hill (68) was trapped in the hospital in Chernihiv with his seriously ill girlfriend for several days. On Thursday, he will be one of several civilians who were killed while waiting in a bread queue.
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The couple had been trapped in the hospital in Chernihiv for several days.
The dilemma for them was life-threatening: If they fled, Hill’s Ukrainian girlfriend would not get the life-saving medicine she needed. If they stayed, they both risked being killed by bombs and artillery fire.
– We are trapped in Chernihiv. They bomb here every single night. People are demotivated. Lack of food, fuel, water, there is some electricity. It’s a siege here, the American wrote on his Facebook profile 13. mars.
According to updates James Hill, often called Jimmy, himself has posted on Facebook through March, they had been waiting for years for the seriously MS-sick girlfriend to receive treatment.
For the past two weeks, he has been reporting constant artillery fire and bombing. About little food, limited electricity and cold. As the days went by, the messages became more and more dramatic.
– It is a living nightmare, but we are alive despite the bombing throughout the day, he wrote on March 15.
Wanted to evacuate
The war in Ukraine demands more and more civilian lives. On Thursday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said at least 780 civilians had been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began on February 24, including 58 children.
The real number is assumed to be significantly higher, as they only state cases they have been confirmed through independent sources, a process that can take several days.
1 of 4Foto: STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE / Reuters
Chernihiv is located along one of the invasion routes the Russian forces have used to enter the country from Belarus, and has been among the hardest hit cities in the war.
It is very demanding to get an overview of the extent of the injuries and deaths, but it has been reported that many civilians have been killed in the Russian attacks, including after attacks on apartment blocks and on civilians who have been queuing for food.
On Thursday, the governor announced major losses of human life and infrastructure in the city.
– The enemy continues its systematic artillery and air strikes on the county capital, destroying civilian infrastructure. Just yesterday, 53 of our dead citizens – killed by the Russian forces – were transported to the city’s morgue, said Governor Vyacheslav Tsjaus on Telegram according to CNN.
American Hill wrote on several occasions that they wanted to get out of the city:
– We hope for a ceasefire and a green corridor. It would be a shame to go home empty-handed after coming all this way and after years of waiting for a medicine to stop the development of her disease. Without medication, she will not survive much longer.
–The last update from the American was March 15.
– Intense bombing. Still alive. Little food. The room is very cold.
Sister: Killed while waiting for bread
On Thursday, Hill himself is said to have been killed by Russian forces while standing in line to get food.
As the war progressed, the shortage of food and drink became precarious in several parts of the country. Getting enough food is a life-threatening task for the civilians staying in several Ukrainian cities.
The American’s sister, Cheryl Hill Gordon, writes on her Facebook profile that her brother has been killed while waiting in a bread queue with several other civilians.
The local police in Chernihiv reported the same day that a Americans had been killed in heavy artillery attacks. Adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Minister Anton Gerashenko confirmed later that day that Hill had been killed.
– The occupiers today carried out once again strong artillery attacks on unarmed civilians. There are several dead and injured. Among the dead is a U.S. citizen, reported the local police in the city after Thursday’s attack.
VG has tried to get in touch with Hill’s sister, who has not yet responded to our inquiry.
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