August 17, 2023

Street Musicians Killed by Missile


Street Musicians Killed by Missile
Khrystyna Spitsyna and Svitlana Siemieikina performing an hour before being killed. Svoi | Kryvyi Rih, Telegram.

On August 9, 19-year-old Svitlana Siemieikina and 21-year-old Khrystyna Spitsyna were filmed singing and playing the guitar on the streets of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. An hour later, a Russian missile strike killed them.

Siemieikina and Spitsyna met while doing individual shows at a concert for Ukrainian soldiers. Viktoriya Knysh, a friend of the performers, told Ukrainskaya Pravda, "They've been like sisters ever since." The young musicians formed the band "Similar Girls," using their musical talents to fundraise for the Ukrainian army. The duo became a  musical staple in the city, putting on shows every evening at cafes, restaurants, cultural centers, events, or on the street.

On the day they died, the performers had organized one of their signature open-air concerts. Russia launched multiple missiles that targeted various residential areas in Zaporizhzhia, killing 3, including Siemieikina and Spitsyna. After losing her friends, Knish posted on Facebook, "The Russian rocket, unfortunately, took their voice, their life, and with this a piece of the soul of each of us."

The next day, Russia launched another missile attack on Zaporizhzhia, targeting a hotel frequently used by UN and NGO workers. One person was killed and 16 were injured.

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