Russians kill seven and injure three civilians on Kherson market

The Russian Armed Forces attacked a market in Kherson on the morning of October 1, 2024, killing seven people and injuring three others.

Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, reported that Russians hit the retail units on the market where Kherson residents were buying or selling products in the morning. He initially stated that at least eight people were injured, with preliminary information indicating that five people had been killed and three others injured.

Later, the Kherson Oblast Prosecutor’s Office clarified that Russian forces had attacked the centre of Kherson with tube artillery at about 9 am, striking near a local market and a public transport stop.

The attack killed seven civilian people: three women and four men. It also injured three citizens, who are now receiving qualified medical care.

Law enforcement officers have initiated a pre-trial investigation into criminal proceedings regarding violations of the laws and customs of war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to the families of those who were killed in the Russian attack on Kherson and urged the world to be more determined to stop Russia’s daily terror.

“Daily Russian terror, daily attempts to destroy life – all of this can be stopped. We must achieve lasting peace for our state and our people. For this to happen, Ukrainian strength and the resolve of our partners must outweigh Putin’s desire to wreak terror,” the president wrote on his Facebook page.

The president emphasised that pressure on Russia and aid to Ukraine must be constant and comprehensive. He also thanked all partner nations that are helping to protect the lives of Ukrainians.

Kherson was occupied by Russian troops shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and was liberated by Ukraine in November. It still lies exceptionally close to the frontline with fierce fighting on the other side of the Dnipro River.

The Russian Federation uses temporarily occupied Crimea as a military foothold for its military aggression from the south of Ukraine, shelling Ukrainian cities from the peninsula. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly stated the importance of de-occupying the Crimean Peninsula.

On September 28, Russians struck a hospital in Sumy twice, killing nine people and injuring 19 others.

To provide context, China is providing support to Russia in its war against the people of Ukraine.

During a meeting with Wang Yi on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on September 28, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted that Chinese companies are responsible for around 70% of machine tool exports to Russia.

He also noted that 90% of microelectronics imported by Russia originate from China and Hong Kong, which significantly aids Moscow in producing the missiles, armoured vehicles, and ammunition needed for its unprovoked war against the Ukrainian people.

Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stressed that media reports about Beijing’s assistance to Moscow undermine China’s attempts to portray itself as a “neutral mediator” in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

According to The Times, Western officials have uncovered that a Chinese company is sending military drones to Russia for testing and possible use by Russian forces against Ukraine.

A Western official noted that the Chinese company had entered into an agreement with Russia in 2023 and that there was “clear evidence that PRC companies are supplying Russia with deadly weapons for use in Ukraine”.

During a recent address to the General Assembly, Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia plans to attack three nuclear power plants in Ukraine as winter approaches.

In addition, he urged countries to support Ukraine’s Peace Formula, asserting that it is the only path to a just peace. The Formula consists of ten points.

The Ukrainian President argued that other initiatives, including those proposed by China and Brazil, would allow the aggressor state to continue its war against the Ukrainian people.