Inside lifetime of ‘Russia’s smallest girl’ as bloody battle destroys dwelling city
The hometown of what is thought to be Russia’s smallest woman has been destroyed in a bloody battle.
On August 8, young Polina, who stands at 80cm tall, was celebrating her birthday surrounded by her family when her early morning plans were disrupted. Polina and her family were “forced to leave” their home, taking with them only the most basic things and their beloved dog, before moving to the city of Kursk.
Two days prior to this, Polina’s sister had informed her the Armed Forces of Ukraine had broken through the border and were already in Sudzha.
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Polina was advised to leave then by her sister over the phone – however, Polina remained hopeful that it was only had a small group of fascists who “would quickly be destroyed”.
This wouldn’t be the case, however, as reported by news outlet MK. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has since claimed Kyiv’s troops have taken full control of the Russian town – which had a prewar population of 5,000 people and contains infrastructure pumping gas towards Europe.
Polina has a rare genetic disease, anauxetic dysplasia, that it is thought only 10 others in the world have. Despite this, Polina, who doesn’t take any medication, does not let it get in the way of life. At home, everything is adapted to help Polina live an everyday normal life.
In 2023, after graduating from school, Polina studied remotely to become a social worker. However, as of this month, everything changed. Living in a rented unadapted apartment Polina is struggling without the comfortable devices she is used to.
Polina and her family still hope to return to their native village eventually as Kursk is also said to be “restless”.
Polina’s mum, Natalie said sirens sound many times a day, notifying of missile danger and as a consequence, air defence is then activated.
She said: “It happens suddenly. Volunteers work day and night, they bring humanitarian aid from all over Russia, everything is fine, it’s just a shame to stand in line and feel helpless, torn away from home, in fact without a fixed place of residence.”
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