Ukraine Anti-Corruption Activist Kateryna Handzyuk Dies after Acid Attack

A prominent Ukrainian anti-corruption activist in Ukraine has died three months after she was severely injured in an acid attack.
Kateryna Handzyuk, 33 was a member of the Kherson city council and a prominent campaigner against police corruption and Russian-backed separatism. In late July, a man doused her with a litre of sulphuric acid when she left her house. She suffered burns over 40% of her body and severe eye damage as a result of the assault on 31 July in the southern city of Kherson.
She did not stop to speak out against corruption even while she was in her hospital bed and called for a thorough investigation into her attackers. She had 11 operations before she finally succumbed to her injuries on Sunday.
Initially the attack was listed as “hooliganism” but after public outrage the case was changed to “attempted murder”.
The president of Ukrainian, Petro Poroshenko, called for the attackers to be punished. Five people have been arrested and remain in custody in connection with the attack.
Judith Gough, the British ambassador to Ukraine, paid tribute to social media.
“Terribly saddened to hear that Kateryna Handzyuk has died. She battled her horrific injuries with courage and dignity. Important that those responsible for this dreadful attack are held to account,” she tweeted.
> Shiuly Rina