A Ukrainian pharmacist said she wanted to “show the world the truth” after suffering horrific facial injuries from Russian shelling in the besieged city of Kharkiv.
Before Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine, while Vladimir Putin ’s troops gathered on the border, Kharkiv was seen as one of the cities most at threat and it has withstood horrific bombings and slaughter.
The resistance of the city has typified the response from Ukrainians since Russia’s invasion on February 24 and residents have refused to surrender.
Nina was photographed with her face covered in cuts and scarring from an attack with a tweet saying that she wanted people around the world to know what was happening in the city.
The tweet, shared by President of the Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine, Arthur Kharytonov, read: "This is Nina. She is a professional pharmacist from Kharkiv.
"Before the Russian bombing attack she served in the '9.11' drugstore. Nina agreed to show the face after the meeting with simple Russians.
"To make the world know the truth. She will need a very long treatment."
Russia calls the war a "special military operation" to disarm Ukraine and protect it from "Nazis".
Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov said hundreds of buildings, many residential, had been destroyed.
"It is impossible to say that the worst days are behind us, we are constantly being bombed," he said.
A witness in the city said she saw people on the roofs of apartment buildings dropping grenades or similar ordnance onto the streets as the resistance continues.
A second witness, outside the city, reported hearing more intense explosions than on any day since Russian troops began attacking last month.
Putin says his "special operation" is aimed at destroying Ukraine's military capabilities and capturing what Russia regards as dangerous nationalists there.
The invasion has killed thousands and driven a quarter of Ukraine's 44 million people from their homes. Russian bombs have hit residential areas, schools and hospitals in Kharkiv and other cities.
"Putin has already crossed the red line into barbarism," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said as London unveiled restrictions on Gazprombank and Alfa Bank.
"The harder our sanctions ... the more we can do to help Ukraine."
Canada and Australia also stepped up sanctions on Russia on Thursday as the war entered its second month. But the EU lacked the unanimous support needed to impose more punitive measures, and was struggling to implement those already agreed.
