Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Command Posts, Landing Pad Causing Damage During Fire Missions

The Ukrainian military hit two Russian command posts and a landing pad in Nova Kakhovka as part of its fire missions by missile and artillery units Wednesday, South (Pivden) Operational Command wrote on Facebook.

“In the morning and in the afternoon, a pair of Ka-52s launched three strikes at our positions in Kherson region. No casualties…. During the enemy’s reconnaissance of our positions in Kherson region, our anti-aircraft missile unit successfully downed an Eleron-3 drone in Bilozerka community, and a kamikaze drone was caught and destroyed in Velyka Oleksandrivka community before it caused any damage,” the statement read.

In addition, two Su-27 fighter jets also attempted to bombard the Zmiinyi (Snake) Island. However, the bombs missed their target, landing in the sea near the island, Pravda reported.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine in the south also reported thirteen invaders, six armored vehicles and automotive equipment units were destroyed during the execution of fire missions, according to Ukrinform.

The latest update on military activity in Nova Kakhovka comes just two days after Ukraine said it had destroyed a Russian ammunition depot in  the city, killing dozens of soldiers.

The attack apparently involved the U.S.-supplied missiles being sent to Kyiv in the fight against Russia, the BBC reported. However, the extent of damage or casualties could not be independently confirmed.

Unconfirmed video footage shared on social media showed several powerful explosions in the region.

Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said the attack involved the U.S.-supplied Himars multiple rocket launcher. He also spoke of a “reality collision” for the world’s “second army.” Katerina Gubareva, a Russian-installed official in the southern Kherson region, blamed Ukraine of bombing “peaceful cities with American weapons.” Russia had captured large areas of the Kherson region in the first weeks of the invasion, which began on Feb. 24.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry said Thursday its air force downed two Ukrainian fighter jets and destroyed a collection of U.S-made M777 Howitzers in eastern Ukraine. The ministry added Moscow’s forces hit a factory in the southern Zaporizhzhia region with Kalibr cruise missiles, which resulted in the destruction of Ukrainian combat vehicles. Kyiv’s defense ministry has not so far confirmed the damage reported by Moscow.

Destruction on the streets of Lysychansk in eastern Ukraine Photo: AFP / Olga MALTSEVA