Russian army firing kills social worker in Kiev. The deceased was identified as Valeria Maxetska, 31. International media reported that the Russian mother was shot at from a tank while traveling in a car to the western border of Ukraine to buy medicine for her sick mother. Their mother Irina, who was in the car, and the driver were killed in the attack. Born and raised in Donetsk, Ukraine, which Russia has declared an “independent republic”, Valeria recently moved to Kiev.
Valeria Maxetska was working with war victims in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an international agency. Despite the fighting in Kiev, Valeria was not ready to leave the country. USAID Administrator Samantha Power described Valeria as a “brave young woman.”
They might have left the country as soon as the Russian occupation began. But in order to help others, they decided to stay in Kiev as the fighting continued. Samantha Power tweeted that she was “deeply saddened” by Valerie’s death and proud of them.
