Russians rob Kateryna Handziuk's apartment in Kherson

Russian invaders robbed activist Kateryna Handziuk's apartment in Kherson.

The community "Who ordered Katia Handziuk?" said this in a statement posted to Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"The Russian fascists robbed and damaged Katia Handziuk's apartment in Kherson. They broke down the door 'in the name of the Russian Federation' and said that this apartment was an object that posed a threat to 'Russian statehood.' Apparently, what posed a threat to their 'statehood' were Katia's personal belongings, her books, and the room she had not visited for almost four years. Valuables from Katia's apartment - jewelry, appliances, furniture and food – posed the greatest threat to 'Russian statehood'," the statement said.

The community said they understood why the invaders were fighting Handziuk, who died more than three years ago. "For a small city of Kherson, which is now fighting against the Russian occupation, Katia has been a symbol of the struggle for truth, national values and justice. Russia needs to destroy all symbols, show its supremacy, demonstrate its superiority and show that power means more than justice. But robbing the apartment where Katia lived and where her single father now lives is not about power. It is about the despair of the Russians, their fear of the Ukrainian Kherson and brave citizens," the statement said.

"Twelve gunmen came in, neighbors began to say that no one was home, but they started breaking down the door, saying it was an 'object that poses a threat to Russian statehood'," Kateryna's father, Viktor Handziuk, said.

Searches of the apartment lasted more than three hours. Witnesses said that several bags with belongings had been taken out of the apartment.

On July 31, 2018, activist Kateryna Handziuk was doused in sulfuric acid near the entrance to her house in Kherson. She sustained burns to 40% of her body. Handziuk underwent several surgeries but died on November 4 of the same year.

On June 6, 2019, five direct perpetrators of the attack were sentenced to prison terms of three to six-and-a-half years.