MY BABY SISTER & FAMILY KILLED IN SHELL STRIKE

Ukrainian living in Ireland left devastated by Russian attack

- JOHN HAND

A UKRAINIAN refugee in Ireland was devastated yesterday as she learned her family, including a 23-day-old baby sister, were killed in a Russian artillery strike.

Kateryna Konishcheva was comforted by colleagues in Carrickon-Shannon, Co Leitrim, as she tried to come to terms with the heartbreaking losses.

Her mum Olesya Konishcheva, 39, stepdad Dmitro Planida, her 11-yearold brother Artem and newborn sister Sophia all died in Ukraine's southern Kherson.

The four were killed following the hail of artillery shelling in the village of Shiroka Balka, on the banks of the Dnieper River.

Kateryna arrived in Ireland a number of months ago with her boyfriend Oleksander, who is also from Ukraine, when she was aged 17. She has since turned 18.

Kateryna has been living in Carrickon-Shannon and working part-time at BR Bistro & Bar, where she went yesterday to be supported following the horrendous news.

The owner of the restaurant, Bashkim Berisha, got a text from Kateryna early yesterday morning.

He thought that because of Kateryna's limited English, she may have mixed up her words.