Budnevskyi Matviy and Kateryna 

The couple of Matviy and Kateryna Budnevski lived in the town of Volodymyr-Volynskyi. During the Second World War, they saved the life of young Jewish girl Freda Shypper (Perelmutter).

During the war, Matviy and Kateryna lived in the village of Horodlo (now – Poland). They never advertised their heroic did, which makes it even more important.

Matviy and Kateryna were acquainted with the Jewish family of Perelmutters, who lived nearby. During the Nazi occupation, Perelmuuters were imprisoned in the local labor camp. In May of 1942, they were removed to the neighboring district of Uhane. From there many Jews were deported to the death camp of Sobibor. Near one hundred young people were removed back to the village of Horodlo. Perelmutters daughter Freda was among them.

On one Sunday she managed to escape from the ghetto. Freda went to the house of Matviy and Kateryna. At that moment, a married couple was returning from the church. They welcomed and hugged Freda. Later, during the summer and autumn of 1942, Freda was regularly escaping from the labor camp and visiting Matviy and Kateryna who fed her.

On October 19, Freda finally escaped from the camp, as she was scared by the rumors of its liquidation. By that moment Budnevski already prepared a shelter for Freda.

Kateryna Budnevska told Freda that she dreamed about the girl’s mother, who asked her to save Freda. In the dream, Freda’s mother also promised that Kateryna will become a mother soon. During 21 months Matviy and Kateryna were hiding Freda in the dark narrow pit under the stack of hay. The shelter was located in the corner of the barn. Their relatives, even Matviy’s mother, were not aware of it.  

All the members of Freda’s family, except her father, were murdered by Nazis. At the end of 1943, Kateryna Budnevska gave birth to her first child. Matviy and Kateryna believed that it was their gift for the salvation of Freda.

After the end of the war, they settled in Ukraine, in the town of Volodymyr-Volynskyi.  Freda emigrated to Canada. They were corresponding for many years.

On February 16, 1997, according to the petition of Freda Shypper, Kateryna and Matviy Budnevskyi were named the Righteous Among the Nations. Their names were also placed on the Wall of Righteous in Yad Vashem Memorial, Jerusalem.