Shelling in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Regions
A series of attacks on June 24 in Ukraine's Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions resulted in the deaths of demining experts and drone strikes in the city of Konotop. In the village of Novopetrivka, Russian shelling killed two specialists working for the international humanitarian organization Norwegian People's Aid (NPA). A 24-year-old deminer died at the scene, while his 25-year-old colleague succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Four other specialists were wounded in the same attack.
Russian forces also targeted the central beach in Zaporizhzhia, raising the number of injured in that area to six. These events unfold against the backdrop of Belarusian signal repeaters—previously used by Russia to coordinate strikes on Ukraine—going offline. The repeaters stopped functioning on June 22, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed this development on June 24.
Strikes on Konotop and Military Drills
Additionally, the Russian military used drones to attack civilian infrastructure in the center of Konotop, a city in the Sumy region. Six people were injured, and a fire broke out at a local cinema. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES),
“the strike caused a fire at the Konotop cinema. Due to the threat of repeated attacks, SES specialists temporarily halted their work. Rescuers eventually extinguished all fire sources.”
To bolster military readiness, Belarus's Ministry of Defense announced mobilization exercises. Meanwhile, in Ukraine's Chernihiv region, authorities expanded the mandatory evacuation zone due to security concerns. The situation across Ukraine remains tense, with ongoing shelling and attacks continuing to endanger civilians.
These incidents highlight the ongoing escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, which continues to claim lives among civilians and humanitarian workers. The recent halt of Belarusian repeaters may signal a shift in Russian military tactics, while the expansion of evacuation zones and Belarusian drills underscore the growing threats to regional stability. As events unfold, monitoring their impact on security in the area remains critical.
The recent attacks in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are part of a broader strategy, as Moscow has reportedly ordered its military to increase drone strikes targeting civilian areas. The situation in Ukraine remains precarious, with escalating violence affecting both military personnel and civilians alike. For more details on the intensifying drone campaign against civilian infrastructure, see Moscow's directive to escalate drone strikes.