Lt German Rojyakov

Mar 12, 2002 - Lt. German Rojyakov was killed charging two terrorists who opened fire from an ambush on Israeli vehicles traveling between Shlomi and Kibbutz, killing 5 civilians.

The two gunmen, dressed in IDF uniforms and armed with Kalashnikov and M-16 rifles and grenades, hid in undergrowth at the side of the road and opened fire on vehicles heading toward Kibbutz Metzuba around 12:30 P.M. Among the first officers to arrive on the scene, Lt. German Rojyakov was killed in a 30-minute firefight, which included three hand grenades thrown at the officers as they charged the terrorists on the side of the road. The gunmen were ultimately killed by Col. Dror Rofeh, commander of the IDF's western brigade.

German Rojyakov immigrated to Israel from the Ukraine seven years ago, and served in an IDF combat unit. He signed for another 18 months so he could become an officer, and wanted to pursue a military career. "Since he was 4 he wanted to be an officer in the army," said his mother, Ludmilla.

His mother arrived in Israel two years ago to join her only son; his father remained in the Ukraine. Ludmilla, who is not Jewish, was seeking to obtain Israeli citizenship. Just a few days ago, German wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, asking, "Do I, as a combat officer in the IDF, need to be killed so that my mother can receive Israeli citizenship?"

Ludmilla said, "I had one son, and now he's gone. I don't understand the mothers on the other side who are proud that their sons have committed suicide. Where is their pain? It's not natural to lose a son."

Lt. German Rojyakov was buried in the military section of the Kiryat Shmona cemetery. He is survived by his parents.