A UKRAINIAN sniper mum has been killed by Putin’s troops in a brave final stand behind enemy lines.
Ekaterina ‘Whiskey’ Shinkarenko, 30, was gunned down two months ago but her death was confirmed today as her remains were only just retrieved.
The highly decorated sniper had been honoured with Ukraine’s Order of Courage, General Staff Golden Cross, and Cross of Valour.
The mum and professional cyclist is now claimed by Russia to be the sixth female Ukrainian sniper to be killed during Vladimir Putin’s brutal war.
Reports say she died fighting with the sniper platoon of Ukraine’s 53rd Separate Mechanised Brigade during the Battle of Avdiivka, won by Russia in February.
“The combat situation was such that the bodies of the woman and her brothers-in-arms remained deep behind the lines of the Russian invaders, which made it impossible to return them home, Ukrainian news outlet Fakti reported.
Read more on Ukraine war
Family friend and military volunteer Yuri Slobozhansky was “saddened” to report Shinkarenko’s loss defending Ukraine, and said she would “always remain 30”.
“She died on February 22, 2024, along with her group, while repelling an enemy breakthrough, during the withdrawal of our troops from Avdiivka,” he said.
“It is only this week that we managed to return them home, and yesterday we completed all the official identification procedures.”
Slobozhansky wrote: “A huge special thank you to those who were involved in the return [of her body].”
Most read in The Sun
Shinkarenko – known as Katy – was born in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, but lived with her family in Ostroh city, in the Rivne region.
Her call sign was ‘Whiskey’.
Shinkarenko is survived by her husband Andrey Bozhko, 30, and son Denis, aged six.
She is seen in footage declaring through the window of a car: “Glory to Ukraine.”
She hears back: “Glory to the heroes.”
The young sniper was also seen on the front line in her uniform enjoying the mud after the winter snow melted.
“I love the thaw…. Cool, really cool.”
It comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called out his allies for protecting Israel’s air space while his country is destroyed by Putin’s troops.
Iron shield
In an unwavering support of Israel, the US, UK, and other Western nations shot Iran’s missiles and drones out of the sky, but he insisted that Ukraine have the “same level of protection”.
Zelensky emphasised last night that, in the face of escalating Russian threats, Ukraine sorely needs the same “unity” afforded to Israel.
“By defending Israel, the free world has demonstrated that such unity is not only possible, but also one hundred percent effective,” he wrote on Telegram.
“The same is possible in defending Ukraine, which, like Israel, is not a Nato member, from terror.”
He thanked his allies for responding to his call for more air defences, but called for more “political will”.
The delays in Western help, which Ukraine claims is desperately required to stave off lethal Russian strikes, have increasingly irritated the country in recent months.
Republican hardliners have caused a multibillion dollar US assistance proposal to stagnate in Congress for months.
Analysts have cautioned time and time again that Ukraine is dangerously near to running out of essential air defence missiles and systems as well as ammunition.
Zelensky said today that Russian forces destroyed the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant because Ukraine ran out of missiles, a bitter demonstration of Ukraine’s need for armaments.
The plant, which provides the majority of the electricity for Kyiv and the surrounding areas, was totally destroyed on April 11 when Russia fired 11 missiles against it, only seven of which were able to be shot down.
“All of our European neighbours and other partners see Ukraine’s critical need for air defence systems,” he said.
The leader of Ukraine stated that continuing Russian long-range missile strikes “will amount to a global licence for terror” if the West does not respond.
This is in response to today’s call from former defence secretary Ben Wallace for the UK government to defend Israel in order to win Israeli backing for Ukraine.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Wallace charged that Israel was “absent” from the nations arming and supporting Ukraine.
“If pilots of the RAF are to help protect Israel, then we should expect Israel to help Ukraine with lethal weapons and other assets, because alliances work both ways.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/feed/
Juliana Cruz Lima
