Sergei Butarov

Mar 3, 2002 - Sergei Butarov, 33, of Ariel was one of 10 soldiers and civilians killed when terrorists opened fire at an IDF roadblock north of Ofra in Samaria.

Shortly after 6:30 on Sunday morning, a Palestinian sniper opened fired at an army roadblock 1.5 kilometers north of Ofra on the Ramallah-Nablus road from his carbine, killing 10 soldiers and civilians and wounding four, before escaping unharmed. With his first shots, the gunman killed the three soldiers deployed behind concrete blocks surrounding the roadblock. Soldiers sleeping in the adjacent building were alerted by the gunfire and raced out to the roadblock, only to be shot dead. Also killed were civilians and soldiers who arrived by car at the roadblock.

Sergei Butarov and Vadim Galigulov had driven up to the roadblock on their way to work. Both friends were killed.

Sergei came to Israel from the Ukraine four years ago and settled in Rishon Lezion. He moved to Ariel about a year ago, and started working in Jeusalem in a candy factory.

His childhood friend said, "Sergei's dream was to buy a car and a flat for his family. He worked very hard so he could achieve that dream."

Sergei Butarov will be buried in Barkan. He is survived by his wife, Katia, and their 10-month-old daughter Alicia.