Russia is accused of killing six people in an artillery attack on a Ukrainian market

An apparent Russian artillery attack targeted a busy market in Kherson, Ukraine, on Tuesday, leaving at least six people dead and three injured, officials said.

The attack may have coincided with a nationwide day of remembrance called Defenders' Day, during which many Ukrainians observed a minute of silence to honor service members and those who died in the ongoing conflict.

The strike occurred in an otherwise crowded market in the city center. Oleksandr Prokudin, the region's governor, released a video showing the aftermath, showing blurred bodies of civilians near stalls full of fresh produce.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office said the attack was “most likely” fired by Russian artillery that struck near a public transport stop.

Officials initially reported seven deaths, but later revised the number to six and clarified that one person who was believed dead was still alive and had been taken to the hospital.

The war between Ukraine and Russia, now in its third year, has led to intensified clashes, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russian forces are making a decisive push to seize territory before winter.

In the strategically important town of Vuhledar, Ukrainian defenses are under heavy pressure and fighting is slowly approaching the city center.

Donetsk region governor Vadym Filashkin said on national television that the escalating violence had made the delivery of humanitarian aid almost impossible. There are currently 107 residents still living in Vuhledar, but all children have reportedly been evacuated.

Ukrainian forces have fought back against Russia with successful operations to gain control of territory in the Kursk border region.

Four regions – Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhia – were illegally annexed by Russia in September 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin is calling for Ukraine's complete withdrawal from these areas, a demand Ukraine steadfastly rejects.

The market strike took place on Defenders' Day, a national holiday honoring the armed forces, veterans and fallen soldiers. Across the country, traffic came to a standstill at 9 a.m. sharp, and people stood still in solidarity and reflected on the sacrifices made by those who defended Ukraine.

In the capital Kiev, mourners gathered in Independence Square with portraits of deceased soldiers. Angelina Stashenko mourned her brother Denys, who was killed in May, and expressed her grief: “For others, life goes on, but for us it stopped when my brother's heart stopped. I hope future generations will never forget the price our loved ones paid for their freedom.”

Defenders Day was established in 2014 after Russia's annexation of Crimea and symbolizes national resilience. Although no official statistics are available, it is estimated that tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict over the past decade.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyj used the opportunity to ask Western partners for further support. “The daily Russian terror, the daily attempts to destroy lives – all of this can be stopped,” he said in a Telegram message after the attack in Kherson.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press.