Woman 'raped and shot in the head' as Russia accused of terror tactics

Friends and family members of a woman in Ukraine are heartbroken after they say she was raped and killed by Russian invaders as atrocities continue to be uncovered in the European nation.

The body of Karina Yershova was reportedly found in a garden in the war-torn city of Bucha where mass graves and bodies of civilians have been left behind after Russian troops retreated from the area earlier this month.

A friend of the victim's mother, Olesya Vasylets, took to Facebook to share the horrific circumstances of the woman's death, according to local reports.

"Friends, terrible news. Racists killed my friend's daughter Karina Yershova. The pain is terrible," she wrote.

"She was mocked, raped, and then shot in the trash.

"Please help me bury her, I knew this kid for years, taught her English, she was a very bright and talented girl," the woman wrote, The Sun reported.

While some tabloids reported her as a teenager, the victim was 23 years old.

Images of distraught family members grieving at her casket were captured by a photographer for the British newspaper The Telegraph.

"She was shot at point blank range. Almost half of her head was missing," her mother told the publication.

"We think it could be possible that she was raped," she added.

"We have not seen the lower part of her body, just the upper part, but what we have seen at the top, we can only imagine what can be on the rest of her body."

There have been mounting reports of sexual violence committed by Russian troops in Ukraine amid what the US and other world powers have labelled war crimes.

In an intercepted phone call, the wife of one Russian soldier could be heard telling him to rape Ukrainian women, but just not tell her about it, according to a translation by Ukrainian journalist Anastasiia Lapatina.

This week, the United Nations called for an independent investigation into rape and sexual violence in Ukraine.

"We are increasingly hearing of rape and sexual violence. These allegations must be independently investigated to ensure justice and accountability," Executive Director for UN Women, Sima Bahous, told a UN Security Council briefing late on Monday.

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"The combination of mass displacement with the large presence of conscripts and mercenaries, and the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians, has raised all red flags."

Speaking to Lithuanian lawmakers on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said "hundreds of cases of rape have been recorded, including those of young girls and very young children. Even of a baby."

Ukraine accuses Russia of using terror tactics

Mr Zelensky also says Russia is using phosphorous bombs in Ukraine and accused Moscow of deploying terror tactics against civilians.

Addressing the Estonian parliament on Wednesday (local time), he outlined the alleged horrors his opponents are carrying out.

"The Russian army is using all types of artillery, all types of missile, air bombs in particular phosphorous bombs against residential districts and civilian infrastructure.

"This is clear terror against the civilian population."

Russia has denied targeting civilians since it invaded Ukraine on February 24 and has said Ukrainian and Western allegations of war crimes are fabricated.

Ukraine has said it is checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons while besieging the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

But Russia-backed separatists trying to seize complete control of the city have denied using chemical weapons and Moscow has in the past labelled US talk of Russian forces using chemical weapons a tactic to divert attention away from awkward questions for Washington.

There was no immediate reaction from Moscow to Mr Zelensky's comments.

Mr Zelensky also said Russia had been forcibly deporting Ukrainians, again without producing evidence, and called for economic sanctions on Russia to continue, saying they were the only way to force Russia to agree peace terms.

with Reuters

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