Outrage as innocent Ukrainian woman is ‘blown up by Russian tank as she collected medicine for her sick mum’

A UKRAINIAN woman was reportedly brutally blown up by an evil Russian tank as she collected medicine for her sick mum.

Valeriia Maksetska, 31, who worked at a USAID partner organisation, was allegedly killed alongside her mother and their driver in a village near Kyiv.

It's said the "brave" medic decided to stay behind to help civilians under siege from the Russians until her mum, Irina, ran out of medicine and they made the decision to flee.

As Valeriia, Irina and their driver, Yaroslav, waited in the car for a Russian convoy to pass on a road west of Kyiv, a tank reportedly opened fire on them.

USAID administrator Samantha Power claimed all three were killed in the horrific ambush by Vladimir Putin's tyrants.

Ms Power said Valeria, an employee at Chemonics, was tragically killed just before her 32nd birthday.

She said: "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 & fighting disinformation.

"She was killed by the Russian military just shy of her 32nd birthday."

Ms Power said Valeriia was born and raised in Donetsk and she had worked on the humanitarian response after Russia's 2014 invasion.

She added: "She survived the shelling of Donetsk, moved to Kyiv, and started working with USAID - where she became beloved as 'a brave woman with a kind heart'.

"Lera, a trained medic, could've left Kyiv when the invasion began, but stayed to help others.

"Only when her mom Irina ran out of medicine did she evacuate. As Lera, Irina & their driver Yaroslav waited in a car for a Russian convoy to pass, a tank fired on them - killing all three.

"Lera’s death is devastating for @USAID, @Chemonics & all who knew her. We celebrate her fierce dedication to Ukraine & joyful spirit.

"As Lera wrote when Kyiv was attacked, she was angry at the awful violence 'but so proud to be a Ukrainian & live someplace where beliefs matter'."

Jamey Butcher, chief executive of Chemonics, shared a picture of Valeriia and said: "This is my staff member Valeriia (Lera) Maksetska.

"She was killed in a village west of Kyiv while trying to get medication for her sick mother."

It comes after a dad was reportedly killed by Putin's evil troops as he crossed the road in Siverskodonetsk in Ukraine's Luhansk region on Tuesday.

Maria Semykoz wrote on Twitter: "My dad was killed by Russian fascists when he was crossing a street at midday in the city where he lived for 50 years.

"He didn’t want to leave. Fleeing wasn’t his style. RIP Dad. I love you.";

The devastated daughter said she "will not be able to bury him properly because there is war in the city".

It comes as:

• Russian forces are massing near Kyiv as Ukraine is fortifying the capital for a long bloody siege
• Kremlin diplomats accused a pregnant woman of FAKING her injuries after Putin's forces bombed a hospital
• Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned - and its feared Chelsea could fold if he doesn't sell the club in 81 DAYS
• Russia has been accused of nuclear terrorism after bombing a reactor in Kharkiv
• Britain has warned that Russia could use chemical weapons as the invasion continues
• Incredible video shows a Russian armoured column being blitzed as it advances towards Kyiv
• Sanctions continue to bite - and one Russian was seen stocking up with dozens of McDonald's burgers as the company withdrew

She added: "Dad always valued freedom. He is an example of dignity and honour to me. And yet humour and optimism. He was a real friend.

"Rest in peace dad. We will defeat them and rebuild your country strong and free. And apricots and apples will freely grow at your cottage, and we will come pick them up with your grandchildren."

Russian forces bombed a care home for disabled people in the latest horrific attack on civilians by Putin.

The care home in eastern Ukraine was hit by Russian air strikes while there were 330 people inside at the time.

The second and third floors of the building were damaged and it was left without heating, electricity or water access.

Thankfully no one was killed in the bombing and a number of people have since been evacuated from the facility near Kharkiv.

The attack comes two days after Russian strikes hit a children's and maternity hospital in the southern port city of Mariupol, leaving three dead including a child.

Harrowing pictures of a lone mum stood in the rubble have become one of the most recognisable images of the war so far since Putin invaded at the end of February.

The hospital was "operational", a UN High Commission for Human Rights spokesman said Friday.

They rejected the claim by Moscow that the hospital was a staging area for Ukrainian nationalists.

The UN has counted 26 attacks on Ukrainian health centres since the start of the Russian invasion, leaving 12 dead and 34 injured.