The Ukrainian mother of a child murdered in the Bondi Beach massacre has told how she believed her family was safe in Australia – only for her daughter to be killed in an act of shocking violence.

Matilda, 10, was among 16 people killed when two gunmen allegedly opened fire on Sunday evening, turning a family celebration into a scene of carnage.

Her mother Valentyna, said her family had already been living in Australia when war broke out in Ukraine, and that she felt relieved knowing her children were far from the conflict.

Speaking through tears to xi24NEWS, she told a small crowd she was grateful her eldest son was not fighting oversees.

‘I brought my oldest son from Ukraine, and I was so happy that he wasn’t there fighting – that he is safe here,’ she said.

Visibly distraught, she described the moment that now haunts her.

‘I can’t imagine what a monster who stands on that bridge, sees a little girl running for her father to hide – and pulls the trigger on her,’ she said.

‘It wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t a stray bullet. It was a bullet. It was fired at her.’

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Michael and Valentyna, the parents of shooting victim, 10-year-old Matilda, embrace during a candlelight vigil at Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach on December 16, 2025 in Sydney

Valentyna said her family had already been living in Australia when war broke out in Ukraine, and that she felt relief knowing her children were far from the conflict

Matilda and her sister Summer, six, were celebrating ‘Chanukah by the Sea’ at the beach with their parents, Valentyna and Michael, about 6.40pm on Sunday when Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, allegedly began shooting people.

Fourteen people died at the scene, while a further 42 were taken to hospitals across Sydney. Matilda was shot in the stomach and was one of those who died in hospital overnight, taking the death toll to 16.

Summer had no physical injuries and was quickly taken away from the beach, but she watched Matilda get shot and kept asking, ‘Is my sister dead?’

Their aunt Lina told the Daily Mail that Matilda’s grandmother had initially called her to say the young girl had been shot.

At the time, they thought she had been hit in the leg and the doctors needed to remove the bullet.

‘I thought she might lose her leg, people can live without legs and I thought I’d push her around in a wheelchair if she needed – whatever happened, we’d look after her,’ Lina said.

When Matilda’s mother called to say she died in hospital, Lina was so shocked she couldn’t stop screaming.

Matilda (pictured), 10, was among 16 people killed when two gunmen allegedly opened fire on Sunday evening, turning a family celebration into a scene of carnage

Thousands of people fled Bondi Beach on Sunday evening as gunshots rang out

Specialist police officers are seen at Bondi Beach on Sunday

She said she could not comprehend what had just been told to her.

‘I asked her to tell me again and again, and I was saying “it can’t be, it’s not real”,’ she recalled. ‘I still can’t believe it’s real – I’m hoping I will wake up and someone will tell me it isn’t true.’

It was only two weeks ago that they had their last family photo at Sydney Zoo.

‘This was the last happy family picture, and they were all so happy,’ she said.

‘In that moment, you’re not thinking it’s the last photo but then reality hits.’

Lina remembered Matilda as a happy and affectionate kid who loved school and had a lot of friends

‘I hope it’s never happening again to any family. We’re going through beyond devastation,’ she said.

‘Matilda was beautiful, sweet happy young girl.’

An online fundraiser set up to support Matilda’s mother, Valentyna, raised almost $90,000 within a few hours.

The donation initiative was set up by the ten-year-old’s language teacher, Irina Goodhew.

‘I was Matilda’s language teacher, and I knew her as a bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her,’ Ms Goodhew wrote.

Other victims included British-born Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, French national Dan Elkayam, 27, Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, beloved husband and father Tibor Weitzen and Wellington Street synagogue assistant Reuven Morrison.

Randwick Rugby Club first-grade team manager Peter Meagher had been on assignment as a freelance photographer at the Chanukah By the Sea event when he was among those who died.

Sajid was shot dead by police during the massacre.

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Naveed Akram was rushed to hospital under police guard in critical condition after the attack

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The 50-year-old father from Sydney’s west was shot dead at the scene by police

His son, Naveed Akram, is in hospital under police guard after being shot. He is expected to survive and be charged, police have revealed.

‘Based on his medical condition, it’s likely that person may face criminal charges,’ NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters on Monday.

‘I’m very mindful of not prejudicing any prosecution of that person put before the court.’

Lanyon confirmed that Sajid met the eligibility criteria for the category AB firearms licence that he held.

‘He was a member of a gun club and was entitled, by nature of the Firearms Act, to have a firearms licence issued,’ he added.

NSW Premier Chris Minns added: ‘The firearms registry conducts a thorough examination of all applications to ensure a person is fit and proper to hold a firearms licence.’

Lanyon also called for calm in the community.

‘Retribution or acts against any part of any community will not be accepted,’ he said.

‘We will have a significant policing presence. This is a time for the community to come together.

‘This is a time that police will take action to make sure the community feels safe.’