An apparent Russian artillery strike hit a market in the southern Ukraine city of Kherson on Tuesday, resulting in a tragic loss of life. The strike claimed the lives of at least seven people and left three others wounded, according to authorities.
The incident occurred as shoppers were navigating between stalls at the city center market, as confirmed by regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. A video released by the Governor showed the distressing aftermath, with blurred images of civilians in civilian attire lying near a stall stocked with tomatoes and other vegetables.
Ukraine's General Prosecutor's Office indicated that the strike was likely carried out by Russian artillery and struck in close proximity to a public transport stop. Kherson, although not a recent focal point in the ongoing conflict, has now been marred by this tragic event.
The war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has seen intense battles primarily concentrated in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia's military forces are aggressively advancing to secure territory before winter sets in. In response, Ukrainian forces have launched an incursion into Russia's Kursk border region, while also seeking additional military and financial support from Western allies.
The Kherson region, along with Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia, was illegally annexed by Moscow in September 2022 and remains partially occupied by Russian forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine's complete withdrawal from these regions, a demand that Ukraine has vehemently rejected.
Kherson fell under Russian control following a full-scale invasion by Moscow in February 2022. However, a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive later reclaimed western areas of the Kherson region, including the regional capital bearing the same name, after nine months of occupation.
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