Popeskul Teklia, Rusyna Emiliia

Teklia Popeskul lived in Odesa. With the beginning of the German-Soviet war, her daughters Nadiia and Emilia were evacuated to the east, and she herself remained to live in the occupied city. One winter in 1942, the woman met her daughters' school friend Tetiana Rashkovska on the street. At one time, the girl, who had no relatives, was raised in an orphanage and her documents indicated that she was Jewish. Even during her school years, when her daughters invited Tatiana to visit, Teklia took care of her. So this time, when she met the orphan, she immediately asked about her life. The girl told her that she had spent the last months in the ghetto and had escaped during the convoy to the camp. Since then, she has been hiding in the city cemetery and occasionally goes to the market in search of leftover food. Teklia took Tatiana home, and the next day she transferred her to a woodworking plant, where she worked as a watchman. For the next few months, the fugitive had shelter at the plant, where it was relatively safe. When rumors of raids began to spread, Teklia asked her friend Emilia Rusyna to hide the Jewish girl. Emilia lived with her young son, her husband was at the front. After a short thought, the young mother agreed, although she understood the risk. Fortunately, everything turned out well: until the end of the occupation, Tatiana lived with Emilia, helping her look after her son.

In 1999, Yad Vashem, based on the testimony of Tatiana Rashkovska, recognized Teklia Popeskul and Emilia Rusyna as Righteous Among the Nations.

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