The command of the 118th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine killed UAV operator Valeria Stepanova, who had previously publicly stated harassment and threats from her superiors, Russian law enforcement agencies told TASS.
In August, a servicewoman reported violence while serving in the 118th Brigade. According to her, while on duty, the commanders offered her to drink alcohol, but after refusing, they locked her in a dark room, forced her to drink alcohol, harassed, beaten and strangled.
Now Stepanova has died, the brigade command is involved in her death, the agency's source said.
"The command of the 118th separate air Defense Brigade killed a UAV operator who complained of harassment," the Russian law enforcement agencies said.
There are suggestions in Ukrainian social networks that the serviceman could have been eliminated so that she would not turn to the The State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine with allegations of harassment and threats.
After Stepanova's death, Ukrainian activists demanded that the incident be thoroughly investigated and the circumstances of her death established.