When a Russian ballistic missile struck a playground in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Matviy Holovko's mother shielded him with her body just in time to save his life by losing her own. Carrying a thousand pounds of explosives and manufactured in Russia, this type of Iskander 9M723 missile contains components from companies based abroad, including the United States, despite sanctions. The blast, considered the worst attack on children in the war, killed twenty people and shredded the eight-year-old's arm, leaving him to come to terms with a life without his mother and his arm.

Matviy Holovko, 8, plays alone with a balloon at Superhumans Center on November 11, 2025 in Vynnyky, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. Superhumans Center is a specialist medical facility for the treatment and rehabilitation of war victims, which was created in response to the increased number of amputations following the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Toys are left in memory of the 20 people killed at the playground where an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile struck on November 2, 2025 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. Kryvyi Rih, which is where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky grew up, is so frequently targeted that Matviy could easily identify the sounds of missiles and drones that follow the frequent blaring of the air raid sirens. On a warm spring day this year, while Matviy Holovko, 8, went to get a chocolate with his mother, he saw the missile in the sky moments before it struck.

Anastasia Prava shows a photo of her brother Matviy Holovko, who lost his mother and his arm when an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile struck the playground pictured here on November 1, 2025 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. This photograph shows Matviy using his arm in the playground where his life would soon change forever. The playground is around the corner from their apartment building, so they must see it nearly every day. When the ballistic missile struck, Vita Holovko, 50, shielded her son Matviy with her body just in time to save his life by losing her own. His arm, however, was shredded and, after three surgeries trying to save it, was amputated. Matviy’s father, Kostiantyn Holovko, 58, never found the words to explain to his son where his arm went. Kostiantyn’s stepdaughter, who is Matviy’s sister, Anastasia Prava instead explained to him that their mother “will stay in the sky and in your heart forever.”

Matviy Holovko, 8, who lost his mother and his arm when an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile struck a playground in his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, attempts to shake hands as he heads to get his prothetic arm repaired during occupational therapy with Mariya Kosovska at Superhumans Center on November 11, 2025 in Vynnyky, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. Superhumans Center is a specialist medical facility for the treatment and rehabilitation of war victims, which was created in response to the increased number of amputations following the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite export controls, Russian weapons with Western components show up on Ukrainian soil nightly, killing and maiming civilians.

Matviy Holovko, 8, who lost his mother and his arm when an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile struck a playground in his hometown, participates in soccer practice on November 1, 2025 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. The soccer practice was held using flashlights in a dark gym, because of a power outage due to recent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure. Air raid sirens blared as the practice wrapped up, but life for these children continued on as normal. Matviy said that when the sirens go off at school and they need to go to the bomb shelter, “we are calm, but we are running.” Families in the area are frequently without power, heat or water for hours - or even days - at a time.

Matviy Holovko, 8, who lost his mother and his arm when an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile struck a playground in his hometown, stretches at the end of soccer practice on November 1, 2025 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. He named his new prosthetic arm “Dragon,” while his friends lovingly call the stump that remains of his arm “marshmallow” when they gently fist-bump it during soccer practice. The soccer practice was held using flashlights in a dark gym, because of a power outage due to recent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure. Air raid sirens blared as the practice wrapped up, but life for these children continued on as normal. Matviy said that when the sirens go off at school and they need to go to the bomb shelter, “we are calm, but we are running.” Families in the area are frequently without power, heat or water for hours - or even days - at a time.

Matviy Holovko, 8, who lost his mother and his arm when an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile struck a playground in his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, dances in the hall of the hospital as he takes a break from playing Roblox at Superhumans Center on November 10, 2025 in Vynnyky, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. During his month-long visits, Matviy is often the youngest patient at Superhumans, surrounded by wounded soldiers. Superhumans Center is a specialist medical facility for the treatment and rehabilitation of war victims, which was created in response to the increased number of amputations following the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite export controls, Russian weapons with Western components show up on Ukrainian soil nightly, killing and maiming civilians.

Kostiantyn Holovko helps his son Matviy Holovko, 8, who lost his mother and his arm when an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile struck a playground in his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, remove his prosthetic arm after occupational therapy at Superhumans Center on November 11, 2025 in Vynnyky, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. Matviy’s father Kostiantyn Holovko, 58, struggling with his own grief, never found the words to explain to his son where his arm and mother went. Matviy’s sister, Anastasia Prava, instead explained to Matviy that their mother “will stay in the sky and in your heart forever.” Superhumans Center is a specialist medical facility for the treatment and rehabilitation of war victims, which was created in response to the increased number of amputations following the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Kostiantyn Holovko sits with his son Matviy Holovko, 8, who lost his mother and his arm when an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile struck a playground in his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, at Superhumans Center on November 11, 2025 in Vynnyky, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. In the days after the attack, Matviy went in and out of three surgeries, all trying to save his arm. When nothing worked, he woke up from the final operation to find all that was left was a stump.“It’s gone,” he said, looking to his dad.“I’ll tell you later,” Kostiantyn replied, but he never found the words.Despite export controls, Russian weapons with Western components show up on Ukrainian soil nightly, killing and maiming civilians.

Air raid sirens blare overhead as Kostiantyn Holovko walks with his son Matviy Holovko, 8, who lost his mother and his arm when an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile struck a playground on this street in his hometown, on November 1, 2025 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. As they walked home, where a power outage awaited them, Matviy's coat sleeve was tucked into his jacket pocket to hide the fact that his arm was missing. He feels more normal this way. Ahead was the playground where, before the attack, he used to play a game called "catch the missile" by launching a toy in the air and trying to catch it. Always hoping it wouldn't land.