Terrified Russian Children Hide from Nazi Bombing – Chișinău, June 1941
June 7, 2025 - Reading time: 3 minutes
Shocking image of Russian children hiding in a makeshift shelter during Nazi air raids in Chișinău, Moldova. Taken on June 29, 1941, in the early days of Operation Barbarossa.
The fear in their eyes tells a story no words can fully capture. In this haunting photograph, a group of Russian children cower inside a crude dugout on the outskirts of Chișinău, desperately trying to escape the thunder of German bombs raining down during the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.
It’s June 29, 1941 — just one week into Operation Barbarossa. The Luftwaffe relentlessly pounds Soviet cities and towns, and civilians — especially the most innocent — are caught in the chaos. These children, barefoot, shirtless, and visibly shaken, seek refuge wherever they can. The scene is a raw testament to the human cost of war, particularly for those who never chose to fight in it.
Photographer Boris Yaroslavtsev captured this moment not only with his camera, but with deep empathy. His lens reveals the truth that history books often soften — the terror, confusion, and helplessness of childhood under bombardment.
Photo details:
📍 Location: Chișinău, Moldavian SSR, USSR
📆 Date: June 29, 1941
📸 Photographer: Boris Yaroslavtsev
📝 Sources: