Aksenchuk Bohdan, Anna and Yevtykhii 

Anna Aksenchuk with her husband Yevtykhii and son Bohdan (born in 1932) lived in the town of Chortkiv, Ternopil region.

The Germans occupied the city on July 6, 1941, and in April, 1942 organized a ghetto there. About 8,000 Jews were deported to it from Chortkiv and other surrounding towns and villages. All these people had to live in a limited area: from Rynok Square to the river and Shkilna Street. They were not allowed to leave the area fenced with barbed wire. The ghetto was guarded by the police and “security service” armed with batons. All the prisoners were obliged to wear an armband with a Star of David. Other residents of the city, the "Aryans", were forbidden to communicate with prisoners, to sell them food or anything else. The Jews imprisoned in the ghetto (among them were many children, women and the elderly) received a meager amount of food, which allowed them to live.

Anna often came to the ghetto to exchange food for various staff. So she met Rosa Kalisher (later Gross). They had not only business relations, but also made friends step by step. Soon Anna hinted to Rosa that in case of trouble she could come to her house.

In June 1943, the rumors spread in Chortkiv that the ghetto would be liquidated soon, so Anna went there to save her friend. In addition to Rosa Kalisher, she took her daughter Batia and her brother Abram Wartenfeld. Three fugitives were hidden in a cellar, and two months later a Jewish girl, Lola Rein (married name Kaufman) joined them. The Aksenchuks hid four Jews on their farm until the arrival of the Red Army in late March 1944.

Anna's husband Yevtykhii played an active role in saving the Jews. So did their son, Bohdan. The boy brought them food and water and regularly emptied the basket that served as their toilet.

After the war, Rosa Kalisher with her daughter and brother emigrated to Israel. Lola Rein, who lost her both parents in the ghetto, searched for her uncle, and together they moved to the United States.

Lola Rein Kaufmann passed away in December 2015, leaving her descendants a book of memoirs "Hidden Girl. A true story of the Holocaust." Bohdan Aksenchuk remains the only living witness to those events.

"Anna did not receive money for our rescue… She is scared to death of what will happen if we are uncovered. But still she is hiding us. I don't know why she is doing it. There must be something inside her that tells what to do. ” From the memoirs of Lola Rein Kaufman

On November 21, 1994, Yad Vashem awarded Anna and Yevtykhii Aksenchuk, as well as their son Bohdan, the title of Righteous Among the Nations.