A deadly shelling in the southern Kherson region has claimed the lives of nine people, according to the Moscow-installed occupational authorities. The incident occurred as Kyiv launched a counteroffensive to reclaim territory from Moscow's forces, with a particular focus on the southern part of the country. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed head of the Moscow-occupied Kherson region, revealed that nine victims were found amidst the debris.

🇷🇺🇺🇦The Ukrainian armed forces have carried out a monstrous shelling of Chaplinka in the Kherson region - at least nine people are already known to have died

An American HIMARS MLRS package was aimed at the village; some of the missiles were shot down, but several hit the target pic.twitter.com/LeHwZPwVY5

— Velerie (@velerie_a) November 3, 2023

Earlier, Konstantin Basyuk, a local Moscow-backed official, had reported a death toll of seven, highlighting that medical professionals were battling to save the lives of two more individuals. Basyuk accused Kyiv of targeting civilian infrastructure in the Chaplynskiy district, including the local pensions office and jobs center. The town of Chaplynka, where the attacks took place, is located around 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Kherson, which is under the control of Ukrainian forces.

Although Ukraine successfully recaptured Kherson from Russian forces last year, Moscow still maintains control over the majority of the Kherson region. This recent escalation further exacerbates tensions between the two nations and underscores the ongoing conflict in this volatile region. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to prevent further loss of life and instability in the area.