Mum's last words to 'tortured' son killed by Russia after final act of defiance
A now-heartbroken mum spoke to her beloved child just half-an-hour before he was cruelly slaughtered by Russian troops in a firefight.
Tihran Ohannisian and his classmate Mykyta Khananov, both just 16 years old, became national heroes after a video of them yelling their last words - "Farewell! Glory to Ukraine" - went viral last month.
Tihran was shedding blood as he gripped a Kalashnikov close to his chest and admitted that death was near following the clash with two Russian soldiers, who the boy said he had killed in the fight. He died of his wounds shortly after filming the piece on his phone.
Though Russia maintains the two "terrorist" 16-year-olds were killed for murdering a civilian, a European Parliament resolution has ruled the pair died as the climax of an ongoing feud with the Vladimir Putin-backing puppet government of Berdyansk that saw them arrested, detained and tortured.
In September last year, dozens of soldiers raided Tihran grandma's home, seizing money, computer equipment and even food in connection with the sabotage of a railway line used to transport troops to the frontline.
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His grandma pleaded with the men not to take him, but her petition was met with cruelty as one soldier struck the elderly woman with the butt of his rifle, Tihran's lawyer Andrii Yakovliev claims.
While in custody, the teenager was subjected to five days of gruelling interrogation as the pro-Putin forces used electricity and vicious beatings to elicit a confession.
Tihran's mother recalls hwo her boy was targeted by Russian forces in Berdyansk (@mihr_ua/Twitter)Later, the soldiers escorted the child to an unknown location before carrying out a twisted mock execution by firing squad.
Tihran was then released, but had been changed by his experience and became committed to fighting against the Russian soldiers who had brutalised him. He and Mykyta took to the forest close to where they lived and fought against the Russian occupation, which eventually lead to their deaths.
Despite the horrors the young boy faced, he is said to have been in good spirits while speaking to his mum for what would be the last time that same day.
He seemed completely unaware that within a matter of minutes he would be riddled with bullets and dying on the ground of occupied Berdyansk, Mr Yakovliev tells The Mirror.
Mr Yakovliev, who represented Tihran in his sabotage case, has shared details of what the brave son and his now-heartbroken mother spoke about just moments before tragedy struck as Tihran and his friend ended up fatally wounded following a gun battle.
He said: "The last phone call with Oksana [Tihran's mother] was normal.
"Tihran's mother was worried about his presence in the occupied territory, so they often communicated. They lived in the suburbs of Berdyansk, and the boys [Tihran and his co-defendent] went into the city for a walk.
Tihran Ohannisian and his school pal Mykyta Khananov, both 16, became national heroes after recording themselves shouting "Glory to Ukraine" moments before they died from fatal gunshot wounds (Twitter)
The boys were killed after months of being targeted by the Russia-aligned executive in Berdyansk (Twitter)"Tihran mentioned that everything was okay, and they happily purchased and ate street food."
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Oksana's overall impression was that Tihran was "making plans" to be reunited with his mum and the rest of his family.
"They wanted to bring him back", Mr Yakovliev explained. "His mother expected that the occupting authorities would allow Tihran to leave the occupied territory."
But rather than being reunited with his loving family, Tihran was shot dead in a firefight with Russian troops branded a "grave violation against children" by the European Parliament.
After her son's death, Oksana has suffered her own round of torture as Russian authorities refuse to return his body, leaving her unable to bury her boy.
The two boys have been hailed heroes for fighting against the Russian occupation in Berdyansk alone (Pictured: The barrel of Tihran's shotgun in the video that captured his last words) (Twitter)
Andrii Yakovliev represented Tihran after he was arrested for "sabotage" and has been in regular contact with the family (Supplied)Mr Yakovliev believes that the so-called executive in the occupied region have an insidious reason for refusing to return Tihran and Mykyta.
"I believe that the Russians are not returning the bodies because it would reveal that the boys were killed without any attempt to preserve their lives," he tells The Mirror.
"They were targeted with precise shots to vital areas that immediately took their lives. Therefore, the occupying authorities are promoting various versions of the murder and repeating falsehoods."
The morgue where the childrens' bodies are being stored is said to be guarded by military personnel who have refused the family's repeated requests to see him.
"Tihran's grandmother has not been given the opportunity to even identify her grandson", he added.
"The refusal to return the bodies without clear explanations is equivalent to torture in terms of the intensity of suffering that the families endure every day."
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