Russia and Ukraine yesterday accused each other of provoking clashes in Kherson, after a video shared on social media showed fighting in the center of the Ukrainian city occupied at the start of the conflict. Kiev has been on a counter-offensive for weeks to regain control of this entire southern region. At a time of setbacks on the ground for Moscow, the British Defense Information Services warns of the risk of increased Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure “in an attempt to undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and government”.
“In the center of Kherson there was a clash between Russian army units patrolling the streets of the city and an unidentified group,” the Russian occupation administration said on Telegram. “After a quick fight, the aggressors were eliminated,” adds the message, according to which no Russian soldiers or civilians were injured.
Russian state media Vesti published a video on Saturday night that showed two armored vehicles, surrounded by soldiers, near the city’s railway station. One of the armored vehicles opens fire and shots are heard.
The Ukrainian military claims however that the incident was “staged” by the Russians to “accuse Ukraine of acts of urban guerrilla warfare”. The Southern Operational Command indicated that “Russian troops are shooting in the streets of occupied Kherson to blame Ukrainian troops and claim that Kiev is endangering the lives of civilians.”
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