Ukraine launches 12 HIMARS missiles at bridge in Kherson
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A regional emergencies representative reports an attack carried out by Ukrainian military using 12 Himars missiles at the Antonovsky bridge in the Kherson region on Saturday.
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The Antonivsky Bridge, Kherson (Reuters)
The Ukrainian military launched 12 HIMARS missiles at the Antonovsky bridge in the Kherson region, nine of which were shot down by the Russian air defense systems, while three fell in the bridge's vicinity, a regional emergencies representative said on Saturday.
"The Kiev regime continues shelling civilian infrastructure, and at 9:13 p.m. [18:13 GMT] it fired 12 HIMARS missiles, nine missiles were shot down; unfortunately, 3 missiles fell in the area of the Antonivskyi bridge. Information about casualties and damage is being clarified," the representative said.
A few days ago, Sergei Surovikin, the general of the Russian armed forces and the commander of all units in the special military operation zone, said that the Kherson region was highly dangerous for its residents to remain there as Ukrainian forces regularly target civilian infrastructure.
"HIMARS rockets hit the Antonovsky bridge and the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, traffic on which was stopped. As a result, the delivery of food products is difficult in the city, there are certain problems with the water and electricity supply. All this not only significantly complicates the life of citizens, but also creates a direct threat to their lives," Surovikin told reporters.
This is not the first time that Ukraine targets vital infrastructure for Russia. Earlier this month, a terrorist attack targeted the bridge that connects Crimea to Russia, and according to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), the attack was organized by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense.
Russia's State Duma stated, "The terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge is no longer just a challenge, but a declaration of war without rules,” while Deputy Oleg Morozov said the explosion was “a blatant terrorist war ... waged against us," adding that "if we keep silent in response and do not give an adequate response, such terrorist attacks will multiply.”
The FSB released a statement saying that "it has been established that the organizer of the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge was the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, its head Kyrylo Budanov, employees and agents."
According to the Federal Security Service, the explosive device that was used in the attack was shipped in early august from the Odessa seaport through Bulgaria's Ruse and Georgian Poti port and then to Armenia, while hidden in rolls with a construction polyethylene film.
September also witnessed Ukrainian armed forces fire a barrage of missiles at Kherson's city of Nova Kakhovka, which targeted a highly important hydropower plant, the district administration said.
On August 4, Amnesty International published a statement in which it accused the Ukrainian military of going against international humanitarian law protocol of international armed conflict, due to their bases being located in civilian-dense areas and institutions like schools and hospitals.
Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard said in the statement, "We have documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas."
