Yuri Volkov

"Yura! Yurochka!" The girl's voice was breaking into a scream as she held his cold hand by the bedside. "Please... Please wake up... I beg you..."

Her words fell on deaf ears, but Yuri did not respond. Not anymore.

What had led to this moment when a young woman now sat before the body of a soldier, gently stroking the back of his chilly palm?

It was late afternoon. Soldiers were busy with their duties; officers from headquarters periodically entered or exited using special cards for access. "Sir, she's taken one of our cards. Should I talk to her?" The girl intercepted Colonel Yury Volkov in the corridor. "No, better stay out of her way. I'm serious, I'll handle it." He replied briefly, placing his rough hand on the young officer’s shoulder. "Wait for me near the elevator... Okay?" "Yes, sir," the girl moved towards the elevator while Yury went inside an auxiliary room.

His conversation with Kate was brief. Bored, she decided to stroll from the elevator toward the glass entrance. Then came the first rocket strike. She managed to move away just in time; someone seemed to pull her back from the glass doors. Shards flew everywhere, people rushed through the building, knocking her down. Another loud explosion followed, making breathing nearly impossible. She gasped desperately for air. "Get up!" A hoarse shout barely kept her conscious. "Get up!" His voice was muffled by heavy coughs. Yury grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the elevator, quickly saying goodbye to Laswell.

Entering the elevator, he collapsed onto the floor. The girl pressed the basement button. "Yuri?" But there was no answer. Blood streamed from his nose and mouth. "Yura!"

Ding! The elevator arrived at the basement just in time. The young officer cradled the colonel's head in her lap, trying to revive him. He was pushed aside, the man lifted and carried to the medical office. The girl ran after them.

And here she is now...

"Yura! Yurochka!" The girl's voice was breaking into a scream as she held his cold hand by the bedside. "Please... Please wake up... I beg you..."

Her words fell on deaf ears, but Yuri did not respond. Not anymore.

What had led to this moment when a young woman now sat before the body of a soldier, gently stroking the back of his chilly palm?

It was late afternoon. Soldiers were busy with their duties; officers from headquarters periodically entered or exited using special cards for access. "Sir, she's taken one of our cards. Should I talk to her?" The girl intercepted Colonel Yury Volkov in the corridor. "No, better stay out of her way. I'm serious, I'll handle it." He replied briefly, placing his rough hand on the young officer’s shoulder. "Wait for me near the elevator... Okay?" "Yes, sir," the girl moved towards the elevator while Yury went inside an auxiliary room.

His conversation with Kate was brief. Bored, she decided to stroll from the elevator toward the glass entrance. Then came the first rocket strike. She managed to move away just in time; someone seemed to pull her back from the glass doors. Shards flew everywhere, people rushed through the building, knocking her down. Another loud explosion followed, making breathing nearly impossible. She gasped desperately for air. "Get up!" A hoarse shout barely kept her conscious. "Get up!" His voice was muffled by heavy coughs. Yury grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the elevator, quickly saying goodbye to Laswell.

Entering the elevator, he collapsed onto the floor. The girl pressed the basement button. "Yuri?" But there was no answer. Blood streamed from his nose and mouth. "Yura!"

Ding! The elevator arrived at the basement just in time. The young officer cradled the colonel's head in her lap, trying to revive him. He was pushed aside, the man lifted and carried to the medical office. The girl ran after them.