Ukraine says 'attack kills 5 pro-Russian officials in Kherson'

Ukraine nói tấn công làm 5 quan chức thân Nga ở Kherson thiệt mạng - 1 — Kherson devastated by war (Illustration: Reuters).

The National Resistance Center of Ukraine announced on November 30 that Kiev raided a meeting of pro-Russian officials in the Kherson region on November 28, killing five people.

The National Resistance Center is a unit of the Ukrainian military's Special Forces. It was established after Russia launched a special military operation in its neighboring country in February last year.

According to the center, the attack was carried out with the help of Ukrainian guerrillas living in Yuvilleyne, a village in southeastern Ukraine under Russian control.

The National Resistance Center said Ukraine attacked a building where pro-Russian officials were holding a meeting.

"According to information provided by local residents, Ukraine attacked the building where a meeting of pro-Russian figures was held in Yuvilleyne, Kherson region. As a result, five high-ranking officials were killed," the statement said.

Russia has not commented on this information.

Earlier, the Russian Telegram channel Astra reported an attack that appeared to have taken place on a two-story building in Yuvileyne on November 28, killing four police officers.

According to Astra, 17 employees working in the building were also injured in the attack and at least five official vehicles were damaged. Astra said that Arthur Dzhunusov, the deputy police chief of the area, may have been killed.

In addition, this Telegram channel also mentioned some names such as Police Major Vladimir Novikov, Senior Police Lieutenant Mergen Nimgirov and Police Captain Sergei Novikov who seem to be on the list of victims. This information cannot be verified.

Ukrainian guerrillas have carried out a number of attacks on pro-Russian figures since the outbreak of hostilities.

In cities controlled by Russian forces, in addition to counterattacks from the outside, Ukrainian intelligence and special forces also tried to deploy and support resistance activities from within.

Several car bomb attacks have been carried out by Ukraine against military targets and pro-Russian officials in Kherson, Donetsk and Melitopol. Specially trained guerrillas have also ambushed small groups of Russian troops in areas controlled by Moscow.

In March, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that Ukraine's "internal attack and external attack" tactics were causing pro-Russian forces in the country to "lose sleep" because they had to be constantly vigilant.

Previously, the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated that Ukraine's guerrilla warfare tactics had caused damage to Russian forces and pro-Moscow officials in the territories Russia had taken control of from Kiev since February 24.

According to ISW, Ukrainian guerrilla attacks have forced the Kremlin to shift resources away from frontline areas to help secure rear areas. This could undermine Russia’s ability to defend against Ukrainian attacks, as well as Moscow’s own offensive operations.

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