Ukraine shelling on Russian-controlled southern Kherson kills 9 – local official

Ukrainian servicemen prepare to fire a mortar at Russian positions. / Photo: Reuters

1734 GMT — Ukrainian shelling of the Russian-controlled part of the southern Kherson region has killed nine people, the Moscow-installed authorities said.

The strikes came as Kiev is pushing a counteroffensive to retake territory from Moscow's forces, focused on the south of the country.

"Nine dead people were pulled out from under the rubble," Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed head of the Moscow-controlled Kherson region, told Russian state television on Friday.

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