In the violence of war, a Ukrainian pizza maker delivers “a little slice of happiness”
Dnipro, Ukraine – There was more evidence of war crimes in Ukraine as satellite images appeared to show mass graves just outside the southern city of Mariupol in Russian-controlled territory. Local officials accused Russia of burying thousands of civilians to hide the horrors that unfolded there, CBS News Senior Foreign Correspondent Charlie D’Agata reported.
Thousands more Ukrainians remained trapped in a steel mill in Mariupol, surrounded by forces loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had previously claimed victory in the city. Ukrainian officials said 100,000 people could still be stranded in Mariupol, which has seen some of the worst fighting in the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a proposed truce for the upcoming Orthodox Easter weekend had been rejected by Russia.
Civilian casualties continued to mount along the front lines of the fighting. In the eastern city of Kharkiv, which has come under heavy shelling since the conflict began, the mayor said Russia continued to bombard the city furiously.
Yana Bachek was on her way to visit her father when she discovered he had been killed by shrapnel after leaving his apartment to buy bread.
“Even in times of war, he tried to smile, to joke, to support us. He said, ‘you are my brave girls, you are heroines,'” Bachek said.
These daily risks prompted some of those seeking safety to live under the shelter of a subway tunnel for two months.
On the platform, Pavel Fedosenko, who works at Daddy’s Pizza, handed out slices to excited children and their parents.
The tab was taken over by complete strangers – people who fled the city, who called and ordered pizzas for those left behind.
“Now we have foreign donors who say they want to treat soldiers, military or paramedics with pizza,” Fedosenko told CBS News.
Daddy’s Pizza has a PayPal account to track.
Fedosenko said it made him happy to bring some joy to people who are suffering so much.
“Bringing a little slice of happiness here, seeing kids laughing, getting a taste of normal life, it’s fantastic,” he said.