A Ukrainian strike claimed the life of a Russian actress during a theatrical performance for troops, as reported by her theatre.
Ukrainian shelling on November 19 disrupted the performance of Polina Menshikh at a dance hall in occupied Ukraine. It has been reported that the actress was involved in a show to observe a Russian military holiday.
Approximately 20 Russian soldiers were said to be killed in the strike, as reported by Ukraine, though Russian authorities have maintained a silence on the matter.
According to local sources, Ms. Menshikh was showcasing her performance in a nearby dance hall that could accommodate around 150 individuals.
A video circulating on social media claims to capture the strike’s moment. It displays a woman, likely Ms. Menshikh, singing and playing the guitar on stage, abruptly disrupted by an explosion, after which the hall’s lights extinguish.
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Hospital sources confirm the unfortunate passing of Ms. Menshikh due to her injuries.
In a statement to the BBC’s Ukrainian service, a spokesperson from the Ukrainian army verified the media accounts of the strike.
Ms. Menshikh’s associated theatre studio, Portal in St. Petersburg, conveyed that an upcoming rendition of a play she directed earlier will be a commemoration in her memory.
The strike occurred approximately 60km (37 miles) from the front line, situated in the village of Kumachove.
Kumachove, positioned in the Donetsk region within the Russian-occupied area since 2014, finds itself during the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. Recent months have seen heightened hostilities in other parts of the Donetsk region, particularly in cities like Avdiika and Bakhmut.
The organization of the show faced criticism from Russian pro-war bloggers who argued that concentrating dozens of soldiers in one place made it a prime target for a Ukrainian strike.