THE MOTHER of a three-year-old girl has been on suspicion of killing her child in a shocking “ritual murder”.

The girl’s horrifying death in Ukraine has been met with appalled reactions from residents.

Graphic designer and artist Yuliia Doloshytska, 32, had picked up her child from nursery ahead of the tragic incident.

According to reports, Alyna Petryv was compelled to don “a white dress, wear a wreath, and recite various ritual words… to banish evil spirits.”

Her mother is alleged to have filmed this “sacrifice”, according to neighbours in Kalush in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Residents reportedly heard screams during the night and called the police.

Officers managed to get access to the property in the morning, where they found the girl had been “drowned in the bath”.

The child had also been “stabbed” according to some accounts.

The cops had got the key from the landlord instead of breaking down the door, reports say.

The mother was present at the scene when the police arrived, according to officers.

“She did not provide any explanation,” said a police statement.

“During the preliminary investigation, law enforcement uncovered substantial evidence pointing to the 32-year-old woman’s connection to planned murder.”

The mother is a divorcee who had lived in the Czech Republic with the child for part of the war.

She is reported to have returned to Ukraine just six weeks ago.

“She lived alone in a rented apartment with the child,” the statement adds.

A murder investigation has now been opened by cops.

The woman, who has been detained, was informed she is suspected of killing Alyna.

The child’s Ukrainian father reportedly still lives in the Czech Republic.

Her church funeral was attended by shocked neighbours and family members.

Local publication Kalush Informator reported: “People shaken by this tragedy, brought children’s toys in addition to wreaths and flowers.”

One eulogy said: “What a beautiful girl, what a HORROR! How is this possible?”