The mother of a 10-year-old girl murdered in the Bondi Beach massacre has spoken of her shattered belief that Australia was a safe haven for her family, far from the war in Ukraine. Valentyna's daughter, Matilda, was one of 16 people killed when two gunmen allegedly opened fire at a 'Chanukah by the Sea' celebration on Sunday evening, the 16th of December 2025.
A Family's Safety Shattered in Seconds
Speaking through tears to i24NEWS, Valentyna explained her family had already been living in Australia when conflict erupted in Ukraine. She had felt profound relief that her children were distant from the violence. "I brought my oldest son from Ukraine, and I was so happy that he wasn't there fighting - that he is safe here," she said.
That sense of security was obliterated in a moment of horrific violence. Visibly distraught, Valentyna described the image now haunting her. "I can't imagine what a monster who stands on that bridge, sees a little girl running for her father to hide - and pulls the trigger on her," she stated. "It wasn't an accident. It wasn't a stray bullet. It was a bullet. It was fired at her."
The Night of the Bondi Beach Attack
Matilda was at the Sydney beach event with her parents, Valentyna and Michael, and her six-year-old sister, Summer, when the attack began around 6.40pm. The alleged gunmen, identified by police as Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, began shooting indiscriminately.
Fourteen people died at the scene, with a further 42 wounded and taken to hospitals across Sydney. Matilda, shot in the stomach, was among those who later died in hospital, bringing the final death toll to 16. Her younger sister, Summer, escaped physical injury but witnessed the shooting and was heard repeatedly asking, "Is my sister dead?"
The family's aunt, Lina, told the Daily Mail of the agonising sequence of calls. Initially informed Matilda had been shot in the leg, she clung to hope. "I thought she might lose her leg, people can live without legs... whatever happened, we'd look after her," Lina said. The call from Matilda's mother confirming her death left her screaming in shock and disbelief.
Community Mourning and Police Investigation
An online fundraiser established by Matilda's language teacher, Irina Goodhew, raised almost $90,000 within hours to support the grieving mother. Ms Goodhew remembered Matilda as "a bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her."
Other victims included British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, and French national Dan Elkayam, 27. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene. His son, Naveed, remains in hospital under police guard in a critical condition and is expected to survive. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed Naveed Akram would "likely face criminal charges" once his medical condition permits.
Commissioner Lanyon also addressed the firearm used, confirming Sajid Akram held a valid category AB firearms licence obtained through membership of a gun club. He urged community calm, stating, "Retribution or acts against any part of any community will not be accepted... This is a time for the community to come together."
For Valentyna and her family, the nightmare is just beginning. Reflecting on a final happy family photo taken at Sydney Zoo just two weeks prior, Lina encapsulated the collective grief: "In that moment, you're not thinking it's the last photo but then reality hits."
