Deadly Shelling in Southern Ukraine: Kherson Under Siege

Russian Artillery Strikes Kherson, Claiming Lives

In a tragic turn of events, the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson faced a brutal onslaught from Russian artillery on Tuesday morning, leading to the death of at least two people. Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin shared a harrowing video of the aftermath, showing the grim reality of the city streets post-shelling. The victims, found dead in the city center, succumbed to their injuries before medical assistance could arrive.

The head of the Kherson city administration, Roman Mrochko, reported that a medical facility was also struck in the attack, injuring two medics. These attacks have become a distressing routine for Kherson, especially since its liberation by the Ukrainian army last year, with civilian casualties occurring almost daily.

As the warfront remains largely static along its extensive stretch, both sides have resorted to aerial bombardment to maintain military pressure amid the challenging winter conditions. Recent developments include Ukraine’s air force downing multiple drones launched by Russia, and Russia claiming to have repelled a heavy Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported the destruction of numerous Ukrainian drones over Crimea and the Sea of Azov, with officials typically indicating drones as ‘destroyed’ when shot down and ‘intercepted’ when jammed electronically.

This recent escalation in Kherson is part of an ongoing pattern of violence in the region, with the U.K. defence ministry last month predicting that Russia might target Ukraine’s power grid again, echoing the tactics used last winter.

Further details reveal more casualties in the region. In the village of Sadove, a 78-year-old man was killed in a private garage, while in Kherson city, a woman was found lifeless beside a bus stop, her image shared by Ukrainian officials. Additionally, a video posted by Roman Mrochko showed significant damage to a multi-storey building in the city.

As the conflict continues, the residents of Kherson and surrounding areas face the grim reality of war, with each day bringing uncertainty and the fear of further violence. The international community watches with concern, hoping for a de-escalation of hostilities and a return to peace.