Six folks have been killed in an area market space within the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson.
In accordance with regional authorities the Russian shelling occurred at round 09:00 (06:00 GMT). That was simply as folks throughout Ukraine had stopped to recollect their battle lifeless.
“Defenders Day” is held yearly in honour of the armed forces.
The shelling, close to an area market and bus cease, was most likely from Russian “barrel artillery”, in accordance with the area’s prosecutor’s workplace.
One picture, from native media, confirmed a physique mendacity on the pavement by packing containers of fruit.
Moscow has repeatedly denied concentrating on civilians.
Preliminary experiences stated seven had died docs had been in a position to save one one who had been “thought-about lifeless”.
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 nonetheless lies extraordinarily near the frontline with fierce preventing on the opposite aspect of the Dnipro River.
It was at 08:55 on Tuesday that folks in Kyiv and all through Ukraine noticed a10-minute silence for Defenders Day.
A small crowd had gathered at a memorial website on Maidan Sq. in Kyiv.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, hundreds of Ukrainian flags have been planted right here alongside framed photos of fallen troopers.
Halyna’s 29 yr previous son, Kostyantyn, was killed preventing within the Kherson area in July 2022.
“He was a platoon chief, a junior lieutenant,” Halyna advised the BBC, clinging on to a photograph of him, holding again tears.
“He was a really good man. His comrades got here lately and advised how he fought and the way he died. It’s very laborious for me.”
Because the silence started, we watched as vehicles stopped in the midst of a busy highway and other people stood solemnly within the streets in a second that felt charged with emotion, sorrow and intense nationwide delight.
Quickly, the sound of the Ukrainian nationwide anthem could possibly be heard echoing by the nonetheless streets.
It was at round that point that the strike on Kherson metropolis came about in southern Ukraine.
Individually, 21 folks have reportedly been wounded as a consequence of Russian glide bombs hitting residential and industrial areas within the metropolis of Zaporizhzhia.
On the entrance line in Ukraine’s east, Russian troops proceed to press laborious and Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin has stated they’ve nearly reached the centre of the city of Vuhledar.
Simply 107 individuals are stated to stay within the bombed out city with kids already evacuated and humanitarian assist “nearly unimaginable” to ship – in accordance with Filashkin.
As a part of Defenders Day, President Volodymyr Zelensky paid tribute to those that had been killed within the preventing, saying: “You sacrifice yourselves in order that Ukraine doesn’t should be sacrificed.”
Yuliya’s accomplice, Bogdan, served as a military medic treating folks in the course of the devastating siege of Mariupol earlier than he was captured by Russian troops.
“I’ve a daughter, she’s 5 years previous so I feel she helps me loads as a result of she’s my sense now to stay. I must be robust. And I must be now a mom and a father in a single individual.”
Bogdan was considered one of dozens who died within the July 2022 explosion at Olenivka jail, which Kyiv believes was a deliberate try by Russia to destroy proof of battle crimes though Moscow blamed Ukrainian missiles.
For numerous Ukrainian households, remembrance is a personal act, in addition to a public one.
Yuliya says she needs to her daughter to recollect her father: “What he did for us and every little thing we’ve got now could be due to him. He was defending us.”