Kyrychenko Hanna, Zaharchenko Mykola and Valentyna

At the beginning of the Second World War Hanna Kyrychenko with two of her daughters lived in the city of Kremenchuk, Poltava region. In September of 1941, the Poltava region was almost entirely occupied by German forces (Hanna’s native city was occupied on 8 of September). Soon, two concentration camps were established in the city – Camp 346-A and Camp 346-B. Both camps were encircled by barbed wire and towers with machine guns. The concentration camps in Kremenchuk were established for Soviet prisoners of war.

Jew Petro Kohanzon was among the prisoners. He managed to keep the fact of Jewish origin in secret. During the hard works in the city, he met Hanna Kyrychenko, who was sympathizing with Petro. She provided him with food, medicines and later, in April of 1942, she helped him to escape from the camp and sheltered him in her house. She also introduced Petro to the members of the local underground movement. He got the documents with Ukrainian names and lived openly during the occupation. He also was engaged in underground activity. However, Petro was forced to move to the East to cross the frontline and join the Red Army.

Hrunia Shtabnytska, the Jewish woman, also went with Petro. Soon, they entered Poltava and contacted local partisans. Guerillas sent them to the local woman Valentyna Zaharchenko, who sheltered the escapees in her house. A few weeks later Petro and Hrunia realized that attempt to cross the frontline would be too dangerous. So they returned to Kremenchuk and lived in the city with forged documents till it was liberated from Germans.

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After the end of the war, Petro Kohanzon was maintaining warm relations with his savior Hanna Kyrychenko. They were communicating with each other even after Petro emigrated from Ukraine to the USA.

Thanks to his efforts Hanna Kyrychenko, Mykola and Valentyna Zaharchenko were named the  Righteous Among the Nations.