7 dead in Ukrainian shelling in Kherson region, according to Russian forces

Russian occupation authorities in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine said seven people were killed and around 60 injured in a Ukrainian strike overnight Monday-Tuesday.

“There are already seven dead and around 60 wounded” in this strike which hit the town of Nova Kakhovka, declared on Telegram the head of the military-civilian administration installed in this locality by the Russian forces, Vladimir Leontiev. It was not immediately possible to independently verify these claims.

“Act of terrorism”

On images published by the occupation authorities, we see several buildings reduced to ashes. “Dozens of houses have been affected (…) We are pulling people out of the rubble,” said Mr. Leontiev. “It is a terrible tragedy (…) The number (of victims) will increase, because the extent of the damage is enormous,” he added.

“It is clear that this is (a) deliberate, violent, cynical attack with high-precision missiles, there are no military targets here (…) Warehouses were hit, shops, a pharmacy, gas stations and even a church”, he said once more, denouncing an “act of terrorism”.

Ammunition depot

For its part, Ukraine claims to have struck Russian military units and ammunition depot. According to military officials responsible for the south of the country, Ukrainian bombardments and missiles killed 52 Russian soldiers and hit “a warehouse with ammunition in Nova Kakhovka”.

The Ukrainian army has been leading a counter-offensive on the Kherson front for several weeks, while the bulk of Russian troops are deployed in Donbass, in eastern Ukraine. kyiv has managed to regain ground and get closer to Kherson, a large city of 290,000 inhabitants, but has so far failed to break through the Russian defenses deeply.