Dorotsenkivsky Oleksii and Natalia, Volk-Karachevska (Dorotsenkivska) Halyna, Lypova (Dorotsenkivska) Olena, Sokolova (Dorotsenkivska) Nina

The story of the multi-children Dorotsenkivsky family from Kyiv, which had been hiding the Jewish doctor Yakiv Lysyi for two years (from October 1941 to October 1943), is probably one of the most optimistic among the Museum’s “Bank of Portraits”. In this story, all the saviors and the saved one not only remained alive, but some of them were also fortunate to receive medical assistance during childbirth, as they saved the obstetrician-gynecologist.

Oleksii and Natalia Dorotsenkivski were the century’s coevals (both were born in 1900). The couple had a private house in Pavlivska Str. and four children: Halyna (born in 1922), Olena (born in 1925), Nina (born in 1927) and Oleksii-junior (born in 1938).

The man worked as a provisor at the meat factory, his wife headed the kindergarten of the “Red Rubber Maker” factory. She met Yakiv Lysyi (born in 1907), the head of department at the maternity hospital (according to alternative sources – the head of the whole hospital) at the councils.

Some episodes in the lives of Oleksii Dorontsekivskyi and Yakiv Lysyi were similar: at the beginning of the war both were recruited to the front; both fought very shortly, as they were captured; both were fortunate to get free. The gynecologist that was forced to switch to surgery due to the war, escaped and came back to Kyiv. Probably, this happened in October 1941, as he did not meet his mother Revecca alive: on September 29 she was shot dead in the Babyn Yar. Therefore, not risking to go home, Yakiv went to Natalia Dorontsekivska. She realized the danger for her and her children, but harbored the escapee.

Oleksii Dorontsekivskyi, according to some sources, was released from captivity, according to others – escaped as well. Anyway, in late October 1941, Oleksii came back to his house. He took the presence of another man in the house with understanding as he realized that this was an issue of survival. Therefore, the former Ukrainian prisoner of war also became the savior of the former Jewish prisoner of war. The escapee lived in a separate room, the entrance to which was blocked by the kitchen wardrobe. Yakiv rarely left the house: sometimes he went to the garden at night, and sometimes Natalia secretly took him to her friends to provide assistance during the childbirth.

However, her night “walks” with the Jew were noticed by some ill-wisher. After one of them the police knocked on Dorontsekivsky’s door. The wanted man managed to jump into the window that faced the opposite side of the house, climbed the walnut tree and waited until the danger passed there, hiding among the plentiful leaves.

Natalia had to come to the commandant’s office in 15 Korolenko (current Volodymyrska) Street and sign the obligation to inform the authorities if she saw Lysyi once again.

To provide themselves and the “lodger” with food, the Dorontsekivsky family learned how to make soap. Halyna, Olena and Nina exchanged it for food.

Yakiv Lysyi had been living in their house in Pavlivska Street until October 1943. In November, when the Soviet forces recaptured the city, all they were hiding in the Holosiiv Forest. Then the doctor returned to his apartment and restored his work. He kept friendship with the family, to whom he thanked his life, until his death in 1980.

Oleksii Dorontsekivskyi died in 1962, Natalia in 1981, their elder daughter Halyna in 1999.

In 1995, Oleksii and Natalia Dorontsekivsky, Olena Lypova (Dorontsekivska) and Nina Sokolova (Dorontsekivska) were honored as the Righteous of Babyn Yar. Halyna Volk-Karachevska (Dorontsekivska) was awarded this title later, in 2001.

On January 29, 2003, Yad Vashem recognized Oleksii, Natalia and Halyna Dorontsekivska, Olena Lypova (Dorontsekivska) and Nina Sokolova (Dorontsekivska) as the Righteous Among the Nations.

In 2006, Olena Lypova and Nina Sokolova were awarded the Order “For Merit” of the 3rd Class.