An apparent Russian artillery strike targeted a bustling market in Kherson, Ukraine, on Tuesday, causing at least six fatalities and three injuries, according to officials.The attack was possibly timed to coincide with a nationwide observance called Defenders Day being held by many Ukrainians, who paused for a minute of silence to honor military personnel and those who have died in the ongoing conflict.The strike occurred in an otherwise crowded city center market.
Ukrainian forces have retaliated against Russia with successful operations to gain control of territory in the Kursk border region.Four regions— Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia—were illegally annexed by Russia in September 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding Ukraine's complete withdrawal from these areas, a request Ukraine steadfastly refuses.The market strike unfolded on Defenders Day, a national holiday honoring the armed forces, veterans, and the fallen.