Irina Osadchy

Ira's mother Bronislava and her friends took part in the conversation.

At first, I was absolutely against all publications. I nearly fainted when, on that horrific night, Israeli television crews stuck a TV camera in my face, but now I think that maybe it will stop someone...

We arrived from Lugansk, Ukraine, on August 21, 1997. Ira very much wanted to come here — a new country, plenty of impressions. But after we moved here, at first she wanted to go back. After a while she got used to it, made friends, and began to study. One week ago we celebrated her eighteenth birthday, and she told me she was glad we live nowhere but in Israel and would not leave for any golden mountains. She felt very comfortable here.

In Lugansk Ira dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but here that wish faded. There she finished eight years of school with two B's on her transcript — in physical education and geography. Here things went worse — a new language, different subjects... She simply lost faith in herself. Recently the situation improved. She decided to serve in the army and only afterwards decide what to do with her life. She had already received a mobilization order for July 25, 2002.

Ira lived mainly within a Russian-speaking circle. I wanted her to communicate with native Israelis too, but she found no common ground with them. She loved only one local girl and said that girl had no prejudice toward Russians. Though today all her non-Russian classmates visit me.

For her, after me, the main thing in life was friends. She was ready to move apartments and change schools because of friends. She went with friends to this disco every week. We are not a rich family, so she and her girlfriend worked part-time all week to pay for it.

Her closest girlfriend, Vika, was injured as well. She underwent surgery and, thank God, is alive.

Ira hated being photographed. She was convinced her nose was too long. Everyone compared her to Christina Orbakaite, and it annoyed her very much.

Neither she nor I had any presentiments. She started wearing makeup fairly late and had not yet learned how to use it properly. That evening I did her makeup myself. She always had a huge mop of hair she never knew how to arrange. And suddenly she had such a nice hairstyle! She left very pleased and cheerful. She kissed me before leaving — that kiss was our family ritual.

I learned everything from a friend of hers who called and said he saw Ira and Vika lying on the ground... Now I realize he already knew everything then. Then we went to Abu Kabir.

Irina's friends join the conversation:

— She didn't like going to school; she used to say she'd rather get married. And she had grown tired of that disco — she had been going there for five months straight.

Bronislava again:

— It's strange, but with me she always felt like a child. Perhaps if there had been younger children... Although the kids are right, she was very sensible. We found an advertisement for a secretarial school. Ira told me it wasn't a real profession... With her stunning figure, legs up to her neck, many pushed her to become a model. But she didn't consider that a profession either. She wanted a normal career where she could achieve something — not just work for a piece of bread, but something useful to others. She was a loyal person. She didn't get attached easily, but when she did, it was forever.

We sometimes quarreled; I am unrestrained and emotional. She always came to calm me down. She was terribly afraid that someone would see her crying. Even me.

In difficult situations she was the elder in our family. Once we turned on a TV series where the heroine confessed her love to a man. She told me that even if she were dying of love, she would never run after anyone. I believe her. She was a very whole, strong person. I used to tell her not to worry — there would be plenty of boys in her life. Now there won't be...

If she could hear what I'm saying about her now, she would be unhappy with me. She really didn't like people talking about her...