Slaughter of the Innocent: Girl with Down Syndrome killed in Putin’s latest atrocity

Jul 15, 2022 10:07 am | Updated: July 15, 2022 10:29 am

Heartbreaking images of a young girl killed in a Russian missile attack have rocked Ukrainians – and the president has branded Putin’s country a ‘terrorist state’.

Photos of four-year-old Liza Dmitrieva emerged amid claims that children had been torn apart in the brutal strike in Vinnytsia, a city in central Ukraine – far from the front lines.

At least 20 people have been confirmed dead after three submarine missiles devastated the city center around 11am on Thursday.

Among them was Liza, who had Down Syndrome and heart and mobility problems. She was pronounced dead after a photo of an empty baby carriage – believed to be hers – near a blown-up building left Ukrainians fearing the worst.

Her mother Iryna documented her life on social media, posting footage to nearly 20,000 followers on Instagram and educating people about her health issues.

Liza’s short life was briefly and brutally ended by Vladimir Putin’s invading forces, the latest in a series of atrocities committed in the name of his “military special operations”.

Iryna, a 33-year-old designer and blogger, had her foot blown off in the blast and was struggling for her life in hospital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believed it was part of a deliberate plan by Russia to target civilians.

“Every day Russia destroys civilians, kills Ukrainian children, directs rockets at civilian objects. Where there is no military (targets). What is this if not an open act of terrorism?” he said.

Continue reading: Horror moment Russian missile wipes out shopping center in Ukraine

His wife, Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, said she knew Liza from a Christmas event she attended and left her a loving tribute.

“Today we were horrified to see a photo of an overturned stroller from Vinnytsia,” she wrote on Twitter.

“And then, as I read the news, I realized I knew this girl. I knew… I’m not going to write all the words I’d really like to write about those who killed her.

“We met while we were recording a video for the Christmas holidays. The little thug managed to paint not only herself, her Christmas dress, but also all the other children, me, the cameramen and the director with colors in half an hour…

“Please see her alive. She cries with her loved ones.”

Continue reading: Dancing on Ice star offers help to seven-year-old Ukrainian refugee

Maria Romanenko, a Kyiv journalist based in Manchester, said: “This beautiful girl from Vinnytsia in Ukraine was killed by Russians today.

“She had Down Syndrome, heart and walking problems, but her mother never gave up on her and had an Instagram profile dedicated to her with 19,000 followers where she educated others about these health issues.

“Your mother’s foot was ripped off after the Russian rocket blast. The doctors are fighting for their lives.”

Photos from the aftermath of the attack show cars and roads obliterated in the attack as fires rage in the open.

CCTV footage shows people enjoying an ordinary day, walking dogs or riding bikes before the attack causes them to fall to the ground or flee the area.

Vinnytsia was considered relatively safe and used as a transit point for people escaping the invasion.

While Russia has hit the city in the past when it attacked an air force command center, Ukraine said there was nothing military to target.

Russia has not commented on the attack, but claims it did not target civilians.