An interpreter heartbreakingly broke down in tears as she translated for an 11-year-old Ukrainian boy telling how a bomb launched by Putin killed his mother.
Schoolboy Roman Oleksiv described the last moment he got to say goodbye to her, prompting the emotional scenes at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Roman’s mother, Halyna Halina, was killed by a Russian hospital bombing that also left the youngster with life-threatening burns on July 14, 2022.
While recounting the tragedy, his interpreter was seen choking up and having to use a tissue to wipe away her tears before gathering herself and continuing.
Roman, who was just seven years old at the time of the bombing, had been visiting the hospital in Vinnytsia with his mother when three rockets struck the building.
The strikes killed 24 people and injured at least 202 others.
Speaking to lawmakers in the European Parliament Roman said: ‘This is the last time I saw my mum. It’s also the last time I could say goodbye.’
At this point the female interpreter became overwhelmed, and a colleague briefly stepped in to convey the words in English while she collected herself. She was then able to continue the vital job of translating Roman’s powerful testimony.
Schoolboy Roman Oleksiv described the last moment he got to say goodbye to her, prompting the emotional scenes at the European Parliament in Strasbourg
His interpreter (left) became overwhelmed with emotion at his heartbreaking story and a colleague temporarily stepped in
Roman Oleksiv underwent a year of rehabilitation at a specialist clinic in Germany after suffering burns to 45 percent of his body following the strike
After the missiles struck, Roman described how his mother was buried under the debris, leaving only her hair visible beneath the rubble.
‘I was able to touch her hair and I could say goodbye to her,’ he told the Parliament.
The schoolboy was himself so badly burned by Putin’s weapons he spent more than 100 days in a coma and had to undergo 35 surgeries to repair his complicated injuries, with burns so severe they reached his bones.
Roman was speaking to MEPs during a presentation of a documentary about Ukrainian children amid the war, following Russia’s illegal invasion of the country on February 24, 2022.
Roman told them: ‘I want to tell you that when we’re together, we’re strong and you have to never, ever give up.
‘We have to continue helping Ukrainian children.’
When Roman awoke from his coma, he had casts on all four of his limbs and had lost most of his hair, having suffered burns to 45 percent of his body.
He was initially told he may never walk again, and had also suffered shrapnel wounds and a broken arm. But Roman has defied the odds and has now returned to his dream of ballroom dancing.
The heartbreaking testimony brought tears to the eyes of MEPs gathered at the European Parliament in Strasbourg
Roman’s father Yaroslav, pictured with his son, has praised the youngster’s ‘superhuman’ efforts which have seen him make a remarkable recovery
Roman was placed in a coma for more than 100 days and, when he woke up, he had casts on all four of his limbs and his head
The brave schoolboy returned to his dream of ballroom dancing after being injured in the 2022 bombing and participated at a ballroom event at his school in Lviv
Roman returned to school after 35 surgeries, while wearing a specialist burn mask to aid his recovery
Three Russian missiles struck the town of Vinnytsia, in central Ukraine, in July 2022
As part of his recovery he took up lessons and returned to his school to show off his moves to his classmates.
It followed a year of operations at a specialist clinic in Dresden, Germany.
He was then finally able to return to his home in Lviv with his father, Yaroslav.
His father said at the time: ‘We did not know whether he would be able to walk, move his hand or his fingers.’
He added: ‘But thanks to [the medics’] work, to Roman’s work, his superhuman efforts… all this opened the door for us to return to dancing, to playing musical instruments.’
As well as ballroom dancing, Roman has enjoyed playing the bayan, a type of accordion, since his release from hospital and even won a competition for his skills last year.
His journey to recovery became the subject of an award-winning documentary, Romchyk, put together by students at Goldsmiths, University of London.
It was shown to former Pope Francis and won an award at the Cambria Film Festival in California.