Chapter 1: A Close-Knit Family
Once upon a time, in the quiet Israeli kibbutz of Nir Oz, lived the Troupanob family. They emigrated from Russia 25 years ago. Settling into Nir Oz, they quickly became an integral part of the tight-knit community.
The family's father, Vitaly, was a hardworking man who had worked tirelessly at a local factory in the kibbutz. His wife, Yelena, had a job at the Nirlat paint company. The couple used to wake up early every day at 04:30 to go on their morning “feed the cats” stroke. The population of cats in NirOz knew them well and waited for this animal-loving couple daily
Their son, Sasha, always had a passion for technology. He pursued a career as an engineer at Amazon. Irina, Sasha's grandmother and Yelena's mother, was a dedicated pediatrician back in Russia.
This three-generation family was incredibly close-knit, warm-hearted, and endearing. They were known for their simplicity and humility, and you would have never heard of them if it weren't for the horrifying events of October 7th, 2023.
Chapter 2: The Disappearance
On that fateful morning, the Troupanob family and Sasha's girlfriend, Sappir Cohen, resided in three separate apartments in Nir Oz. Vitaly, Yelena, and Vitali were at the Trupanob family home, Irina was at her house right across from them, while Sasha and Sappir, who lived together in Ramat Gan, came to visit Sasha's parents for the holidays, staying in a rented apartment.
At 7:15 a.m., Yelena sent a one-minute voice message to a close friend from work. She explained that they were in a protected area (a bomb shelter - mamad) because Sasha's apartment in Nir Oz had no safe room, and the kibbutz was under constant rocket attack. Sasha's last conversation at 8:27 a.m. was with his friend Guy. Sasha expressed his concerns about bringing Sappir to Nir Oz during such a challenging time with sirens and rocket threats.
And then, they disappeared.
By 11:00 a.m., the last phone call was made from Yelena's mobile phone to a friend of Sasha's. This call was quiet and lasted only 30 seconds before it disconnected.
The parent's house had been set on fire, and there were signs of violence, but no bloodshed. The rented apartment where Sasha and Sappir were staying was broken into, but also without signs of bloodshed. Meanwhile, their phones indicated that they were in Gaza.
Chapter 3: The Community's Response
The Trupanob family had no family in Israel, no cousins, brothers, grandparents, or aunts who could look after them or inquire about their well-being. It was their friends who stepped up. Following their disappearance, a support network of 6 close friends was formed to aid the family.
2 weeks after that Saturday, Vitaly Troufanov’s body was discovered on the outskirts of Gaza. The family's father was laid to rest, without any close family members present to accompany him on his final journey. The Troufanov family was in desperate need of help.
And now, it's up to those who care. If you're asking yourself, "How can I help?" then please, share this story in Hebrew, English, or Russian. Spread the word and help get this message to the right people who can assist this family in this terrible tragedy.
The Troufanovs need us. Their story is not only about their disappearance but also about the strength of the community and the power of individuals coming together to support those in need.
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