KYIV: A Ukrainian woman was killed by the Russian troops on her birthday. The woman who went out to buy medicines for her mother was allegedly shot dead by the Russian troops in a village nearby the capital city of Kyiv. The dead has been identified as Valeriia Maksetska, a 31-year-old. Valeriia’s mother Irina and the driver of the vehicle have also died in the Russian tank attack.

Valeriia Maksetska, a trained medic, had refused to leave the country despite the Russian invasion. She had survived the shelling of Donetsk, moved to Kyiv and started working with United States Agency for International Development (USAID). However, she decided to flee the country along with her sick mother as they ran out of Irina’s medicines. This journey had culminated in her death. They were attacked on their way to the western borders of Ukraine. At the time, Russian tanks had passed through the area. They had pulled over to allow the Russian troops to pass when one of them opened fire at their car. However, the troops brutally killed all three of them.

“I'm enormously sad to share the death of Valeriia 'Lera' Maksetska - proud Ukrainian, beloved USAID implementing partner & brilliant, compassionate leader on building social cohesion and fighting disinformation. She was killed by the Russian military just shy of her 32nd birthday”, said USAID administrator Samantha Power.

The Russian invasion in Ukraine, which began on February 24, is continuing till date. Russia is facing an unexpected resistance from the Ukraine troops. As of now, more than 12,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the war, claimed Ukraine.