Mystery of Ukraine’s ‘Lady Death’ sniper who became national hero battling Putin’s troops – but keeps identity secret

A SNIPER hailed as Ukraine’s very own “Lady Death” has become a national hero as she defiantly battles Russian soldiers undercover. Known only as Charcoal, the sharpshooter’s identity is shrouded in mystery as she vows to fight Vladimir Putin‘s butchers “to the very end”. Twitter / lapatina_The sniper – known only as Charcoal – has been hailed a hero after returning to service in Ukraine[/caption] Twitter / lapatina_Charcoal left the Ukrainian armed forces in January, but returned after Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine[/caption] GettyShe has been likened to Ukrainian-born Lyudmila Pavlichenko – credited as one of the most prolific female snipers ever[/caption] The markswoman joined the Ukrainian Marines in 2017 and spent years fighting pro-Kremlin separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk. After serving on numerous tours in the east of the country, Charcoal left the Ukrainian armed forces in January – just weeks before Putin ordered his troops to invade on February 24. The determined sniper volunteered to return to the front line with the 35th infantry brigade of Rear Admiral Mykhailo Ostrogradsky as she issued a rallying cry to Ukrainian troops. “We must take them all out,” she said, reports The Times. Read more on Ukraine 'I'M ALL ALONE' Devastated mum weeps over grave she dug for son, 27, shot by Russian troops WARPED Maniac Putin plots ANNIHILATION after convincing himself Ukrainians are 'traitors' “These people are not human beings. Even the fascists were not as vile as these orcs. “We must defeat them.” Charcoal – whose face has been partially covered in pictures to protect her identity – has been likened to Ukrainian-born sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko for her heroic efforts. Pavlichenko earned herself the nickname Lady Death as she clocked up 309 Nazi kills in World War 2 and is claimed to have never lost a sniper duel during her years of service – always getting her man. Most read in The Sun he's walked Dan Walker QUITS BBC Breakfast after six years for Channel 5 news job SOAP LEGEND DEAD June Brown dead aged 95 - EastEnders legend Dot Cotton dies 'really hard' Lisa Snowdon, 50, in tears as she gives update on her 'rollercoaster' health SMART SWITCH Big change to energy smart meters next month could lower bills PHIL YOUR BOOTS Man Utd can land Phillips in £60m transfer but face missing out Aston Villa 'SO OBVIOUS' Justin Bieber fans think wife Hailey is PREGNANT after spotting 'baby bump' She has been heralded as the most successful female sniper ever after serving in the Red Army in the defence of Odesa and Sevastopol before touring the US and England as a propoagandist. Following in Pavlichenko’s footsteps, Charcoal has now become a symbol of staunch Ukrainian resistance as soldiers bravely battle against Russian troops who have been accused of genocide by Volodymyr Zelensky. ­The Ukrainian president fought back tears as he visited the town of Bucha where Putin’s troops have been accused of butchering civilians and burying them in mass graves. Zelensky, who was visibly emotional, was flanked by security as he vowed to ensure that the “war crimes” committed by Russian soldiers on his country’s soil were “the last such evil on Earth”. But in a blow to Putin’s forces, a female Russian sniper with 40 kills to her name was captured after being abandoned on the battlefield, it was reported. Irina Starikova – whose call sign is Bagira – is said to have told her captors she was left to die after being wounded in a battle with Ukrainian troops. According to the Peacemaker centre, which researches crimes committed by Russian separatists in the Ukraine war, she is 41-years-old. She also has two daughters, aged 11 and nine, and is divorced from their father Alexander Fedotov. Read More on The Sun 'GENOCIDE' President Zelensky fights back tears as he surveys city after Russian invasion FIGHT NIGHT Shocking moment woman is punched as rival football fans clash in street brawl Starikova served with the forces of the Russian separatist Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, which has been fighting the government in Kyiv since 2014. Her capture was announced by the Ukrainian armed forces, who said she “shot our prisoners in 2014”, alongside pictures of her. We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.