On December 22, at 3 am, a fire broke out on the 6th floor of the Butterfly suburban complex in Vinnytsia Oblast, killing and injuring people.
By the will of fate, it was in this complex that the training camp of the Vinnytsia regional branch of the All-Ukrainian Taekwon-Do Union took place, with the participation of 54 young taekwondo fighters, led by the head of the Vinnytsia regional branch of the All-Ukrainian Taekwon-Do Union, coach Valery Dovbnya 4-dan.
At 3 o’clock in the morning, Valery made another tour of the rooms on the fifth floor of the hotel where the children slept. Valery smelled smoke in the corridor and was the first to report the fire to the hotel administration and other residents.
Within minutes, Valery Dovbnya and his wife Natalia Dovbnya took 54 children from the burning floor to the street. Our children were already safe before the rescue services arrived.
According to Valery, the children got dressed in seconds and clearly, without panic, followed all the commands of the evacuation coaches. In an extreme situation, children did not panic, on the contrary, showed composure and discipline, it is those qualities of character that are brought up in Taekwondo classes.
By courageous and decisive actions, risking his own life, Valery Dovbnya and his wife Natalia saved the lives of 54 children.
This is heroic act!
As Valery said, he always treats his responsibilities with the understanding that his parents have entrusted him with the most valuable thing in their lives – Children!
I am sure that all coaches of the All-Ukrainian Taekwon-Do Union treat with the same responsibility their work.
On behalf of the All-Ukrainian Taekwon-Do Union team, parents and athletes, we bow low and THANK YOU Valery Dovbnya and Natalia Dovbnya for saving the lives of our CHILDREN!
Your heroic deed is an example to be followed by every Ukrainian coach, every citizen of our country!
P.S. we wish the injured employees of the hotel a fast recovery. And unfortunately… express our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased 21-year-old girl…
President of the All-Ukrainian Taekwon-Do Union
Valentyn Zorba
2021 Middle East Report
