Copyright © 2021 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

In Memoriam: Baba Masha, the civilian cyborg

Mariya Horpynych, aka “Baba Masha”. Photo: Andriy Dubchak, RFE/RL
Coordinator of the humanitarian mission “Prolisok” Yevhen Kaplyn has reported that legendary Mariya Horpynych, aka “Baba Masha”, died on November 30 when a fire broke out in her home in the village of Opytne, Donetsk Oblast.

“Today, Baba Masha has left her earthly place and entered heaven’s gate. Three days ago, I was with her, inspecting what our team had accomplished in terms of renovation to her home, which had suffered from numerous shelling … I was lucky enough to know this steadfast, brave woman. For five and a half years, she lived within the walls of this war… May she rest in peace!” said Kaplyn.

Mariya was born in Zakarpattia Oblast in 1940. Mariya’s husband was killed in the war zone in 2014, and her son was seriously injured by shrapnel fragments in 2015. He was buried a few days later in a shell crater left by enemy projectiles in his yard. Despite these tragic losses, Mariya never gave up and continued supporting the Ukrainian Army. She sent the soldiers fruit from her orchard trees and products from her garden.

Due to uninterrupted shelling by Russian mercenaries, the local fire brigade was unable to arrive at the scene of the fire. The fire could have been caused by a gas lamp or candle, since Opytne has been without power since the beginning of the war. Volunteers are planning to travel to Mariya’s home in order to find her remains and honour her with prayer and a decent burial.

Mariya Horpynych (Baba Masha) was fondly referred to as the “civilian cyborg”.

Coordinator of the humanitarian mission “Prolisok” Yevhen Kaplyn and Baba Masha before her bullet-ridden home in Opytne
Opytne is a small village in Donetsk Oblast, located very close to the demarcation line and to Donetsk Airport. Before the war, there were about 855 inhabitants in Opytne; it was considered an elite area, a country getaway village for Donetsk residents. As of August 2019, there were 38 people left in Opytne. Now… only 37.  

 

 

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Total
0
Shares