Ukrainian Refugee Father Drowns in Ashdod Weeks After Son Killed in Gaza Attack

Vladimir Logvintchenko, a 60-year-old hearing-impaired man who fled the war in Ukraine with his family, drowned last Saturday at an unregulated beach near Ashdod's Metzuda beach. His family buried him in Ashdod amid deep grief, as this loss follows the murder of his son and son-in-law during the Hamas attack on October 7 in the Gaza border area.

Vladimir left behind his wife Irina, daughter Katya, daughter-in-law Liliya, and grandson Yaroslav. His son Vitaly, born in Ukraine in January 1989, was known for his dedication to the hearing-impaired community, inspired by his father's condition. Vitaly married Liliya in 2017, and they lived in Kherson with their son Yaroslav. Vitaly ran a successful food stand and was loved for his warm personality and passion for cooking and fishing.

The family first came to Israel in 2019, returned to Ukraine, and Vitaly later moved back to Israel alone. Liliya and Yaroslav joined him in 2022 after the Russian invasion, settling in Ashkelon near Liliya's parents. On October 7, Vitaly and his father-in-law Oleg went fishing near the Gaza border but were killed by militants during the Hamas attack.

Vladimir's drowning was reported on the afternoon of the previous day to Magen David Adom's emergency center. Paramedics found him unconscious without pulse or breathing after being pulled from the water. Despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, marking a tragic second loss for the family within three years.