MOSCOW: Russian-occupied Novaya Kakhovka in southern Ukraine is under intense artillery fire from Ukrainian forces, according to Moscow’s occupational authorities on Saturday.
The shelling left the city without power and disrupted the lives of the residents. Novaya Kakhovka is located in the southern Kherson region, which is controlled by Russia. It is upstream from Kherson, the regional capital from which Russia withdrew last November.
The Russian-installed authorities of Novaya Kakhovka urged residents to stay calm and assured them that the restoration of power would commence after the shelling ended. The city is home to the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, which is a strategic target that was captured in the first hours of Russia’s offensive on February 24, 2022.
Ukrainian shelling and drone attack on fuel depot in Crimea
The shelling coincides with a drone attack on a fuel depot in Russian-annexed Crimea as Kyiv prepares for a widely expected counter-offensive against Moscow’s forces. The attack in Crimea caused damage to the depot, but no casualties have been reported.
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have been high since 2014, when Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine. The situation escalated in 2022 when Russia launched a major offensive against Ukraine, resulting in the occupation of several regions in eastern and southern Ukraine. The conflict has claimed the lives of thousands of people and displaced many more.
The intensification of shelling in Novaya Kakhovka and the drone attack in Crimea are likely to escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine further, as both sides prepare for a possible escalation of hostilities.
