Kherson Weekly: 14-20 December
Weekly Review of War-Related Events and Information Space in & around Kherson
Photo: Kherson Direction
Video of the Week
The National Police reported an 82-year-old man was injured in Antonivka by a drone-dropped grenade attack on 16 December. On 21 December, the Kherson Patrol Police showed the rescue of that victim.
Video: Patrol Police Kherson
📍Antonivka On December 16, 2024, at about 11 a.m., Russian troops struck civilians with a drone. An 82-year-old man was injured. We quickly arrived at the scene in an armored vehicle, provided first aid, and evacuated the wounded man to the hospital.
Geolocator 99Dominik on X connected this video to a previously geolocated video depicting the incident, which was released by Osvedomitell Alex on his war crime blog, “From Mariupol to the Carpathians,” earlier this week.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
Geolocation by 99Dominik on X.
Photo of the Week
Photo: Oleksandr Prokudin
The windows glow as fires burn in the aftermath of the nighttime bombing of the Oncological Hospital in the neighborhood of Kindiyka. More on the bombing in the feature story below.
Terror From the Left Bank
Video: Sudoplatov Official
On 18 December, the Sudoplatov Telegram channel shared footage depicting an array of munitions employed by Russian drones operating in the Kherson direction. The drone group “Scorpions-328” is a regular feature on the Sudoplatov Telegram channel and the group featured in this selection. Most of the targets in the video are structures in which the drones seem to be focusing on creating fires. On display is their use of drone-dropped grenades, incendiary munitions, and PFM-1 Lepestok “petal” anti-personnel mines. These mines are remotely deployed in residential areas of Kherson, with documentation as far back as September.
The Assault on Kherson
Bombardment of the City & Riverine Operations
On the night of 19-20 December, the Russian forces across the Dnipro unleashed a massive barrage of artillery shelling, rocket artillery, and aerial guided bombs on the city. The Russian artillery covered for several reconnaissance groups to attempt a crossing of the Dnipro River near the Antonivka Bridge, according to a social media announcement by Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
These groups were claimed to be destroyed by the Ukrainian Southern Joint Task Force, with four boats destroyed on 20 December and three more on 21 December. The 124th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade shared video evidence of their work in repelling the Russian assault by eliminating enemy equipment along the Dnipro.
#1
The Ukrainian Navy shared footage of drones of the 124th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade destroying one BMP and two boats with their accompanying infantry.
Video: Ukrainian Navy
The Russian milblogger, Osvedomitell Alex, who manages the Telegram channel, “From Mariupol to the Carpathians,” shared a slew of videos depicting the Russian barrage on Kherson. All of the following videos are listed in chronological order according to their time of publication. The shelling depicted below showcases both the barrel artillery, rocket artillery, and thermobaric “flamethrower” systems. Almost every one of these videos shared by the milblogger were captioned mockingly and simply with “nothing is happening.” Roughly 80,000 people endured this “nothing” as hundreds of Russian artillery and rocket strikes pummeled residential neighborhoods around the entirety of Kherson and the banks of the Dnipro.
#2
Claimed TOS-1 thermobaric rocket artillery shelling on Kherson and the surrounding settlements, according Osvedomitell Alex.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
#3
Artillery shelling filmed from within Kherson city.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
#4
Artillery explodes in the distance and highlights the Kherson skyline.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
#5
Artillery strikes hit a high-rise apartment building.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
#6
Thermal and non-thermal view of the artillery shelling in Kherson.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
Casualties from Shelling
On 20 December, Governor Prokudin shared two videos showing the devastation and death wreaked upon Kherson. According to the National Police, the shelling damaged over 60 private homes and apartments, while damaging at least twelve different civil infrastructure objects across the city. Two civilians died and eleven were wounded. Dead and injured civilians retrieved or treated. Shredded homes were inspected and the consequences of Russian terror were documented.
#1
Video: Oleksandr Prokudin
#2
Video: Oleksandr Prokudin
Bombing of the Oncological Hospital
Photo: Osvedomitell Alex
On the night of 20 December, the Russian VKS dropped two aerial guided bombs on the Oncological Hospital in Kindiyka. This has been a target of Russian drones since the summer, and it’s been a favorite topic of Alex’s regular posts since early September like the statement below issued from the channel on 09 September.
Kherson. Oncology district.
The UAV cover group is working and in addition to this, stationary points have been installed on the upper floors.
Earlier in the week on 15 December, after speculation of an offensive on Kherson emerged, Alex shared a lengthy explanation of the Russian attitude towards the cancer hospital within Kherson. He has consistently claimed the hospital is a military target and that civilian casualties are a result of Ukrainian forces using the patients and residents of the neighborhood as human shields. He has never provided a single piece of evidence locating Ukrainian soldiers in or near the hospital, despite there being drone footage of non-combatants living and working near the hospital being stalked and killed by Russian drones. One such incident occurred as early as 2 September, when an Oncologist from the hospital was killed.
Oncology. Salutations. High-rise buildings.
The situation does not change, but only confirms that the upper floors are working for the enemy, and civilians have become hostages of this terrible situation. But war is such a thing and no one has ever escaped from civilian casualties. And here the blame lies entirely with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the military administration of the city of Kherson. The work to destroy the points will be continued and intensified.
Video of the Russian airstrikes on the hospital emerged in the last hours of 20 December — just as reports from the Ukrainian side rolled in about the strike. The milblogger levied completely baseless claims of civilian casualties being planted by Ukraine to accuse Russia of a crime, and then admitted his crony drone pilots would carry out attacks on evacuation groups heading towards the scene of the bombing.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
There were no civilians there, although now they may bring corpses for the picture. We deliberately waited for a pause. The enemy is preparing a provocation. We are also observing evacuation groups, but they cannot yet drive close; our small unmanned aircraft are destroying them.
He issued further threats to the lives of non-combatant first responders of Ukraine’s State Emergency Services, which have been a favorite target of Russian drone pilots since the summer.
We warn the special services that will be involved in eliminating the consequences. You are guaranteed to be a priority target. Guaranteed. - Osvedomitell Alex
And more — complete with his typical racist insults.
Now the special services will start working. Look for cocks. - Osvedomitell Alex
Photos: Oleksandr Prokudin
Governor Oleksandr Prokudin set the record straight in the morning of 21 December, noting no casualties were sustained in the bombing of the hospital.
This is what the oncology clinic in Kherson looks like now. Last night, Russian occupation forces struck a medical facility from the air, launching two KABs. Fortunately, patients and medical staff were not injured. However, the building suffered significant damage.
This is another act of terror directed against the civilian population. Russia once again demonstrates its essence as an aggressor country, which purposefully destroys everything important for life.
Intrigue
Discord and Depopulation Through Disinformation
Russian milbloggers and collaborationist accounts took advantage of the bombardment to sow chaos and discord amongst the Ukrainian civilian population of Kherson through manipulation of information and videos on social media.
As soon as Russian forces began their massive bombardment along the banks of the Dnipro from Sadove to Bilozerka, Governor Prokudin released an appeal to evacuate and offered the government’s assistance to those in need.
Video: Oleksandr Prokudin
The enemy shelling of Kherson and its suburbs from the temporarily occupied left bank continues. Residential areas, critical and social infrastructure are under fire. Unfortunately, there are casualties among the townspeople. The enemy DRGs [reconnaissance groups] tried to advance towards Kherson, but were immediately discovered and destroyed by our Defenders. Medics, rescuers, law enforcement officers and municipal services are working on the spot.
We are awake with you. Difficult days are ahead. The tense situation will remain throughout the holidays, so do not go out into the streets without urgent need! I urge you once again - evacuate!
However, the Russian terrorist milblogger, Osvedomitell Alex, cut the clip to the last 25 seconds in order to make the appeal to evacuate seem curt, urgent, and to lead audiences to interpret it as a mandate.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
❗️Kherson. Evacuation❗️
The enemy is urgently evacuating the city. Yesterday, evacuation measures were already carried out for some of the public utilities and equipment, power engineers are being transferred to Nikolaev. The motor transport column is also being withdrawn to Nikolaev, most of the drivers were laid off retroactively. We are observing disorientation among the enemy administration.
In turn, we guarantee everyone safety and amnesty for cooperation. We guarantee life.
The milblogger tried to sow distrust in the government administration with this claim and then encouraged collaboration for those residents who still refuse to leave their homes.
An hour later, Alex sowed more discord by doubling down on the claim that Ukraine would carry out an attack upon their own evacuation buses.
❗️❗️❗️Kherson. Evacuation❗️❗️❗️
It is reported that the enemy is going to organize a column from Nikolaev (buses) in the amount of 10 units to evacuate civilians, but there will be no evacuation. A provocation or terrorist act with the accusation of this on the Russian Federation is possible. The column is expected at the bus station and railway station at about 15:00.
Civilians should be extremely careful.
No such incident arose. Yet regarding the Oncological Hospital attack of the same night, Alex admitted that Russian drones would be trying to attack evacuation groups in the city.
Prokudin issued another public announcement to combat the Russian disinformation, which he characterized as being aimed towards sowing panic amongst the civilian population and contributing to their goal of depopulating the city of its civilian residents. He emphasized that evacuation, at this point, is a choice and not mandatory.
Video: Oleksandr Prokudin
The Russians are trying to use today's massive shelling and the failed attempt to advance towards Kherson to sow panic in the region. A number of Telegram channels are publishing fake messages that a forced evacuation has been announced in Kherson. This is not true. The region is under constant attacks by the enemy army and the Russians are constantly trying to cross to the right bank.
Please, let's not panic. The evacuation procedure remains unchanged for now. In the case of a forced evacuation, the decision will be made separately and I will definitely inform you about it separately. Regarding evacuation, you must first contact our regional contact center at the numbers: 0 800 101 102 or 0 800 330 951. There are two ways to leave - by train or bus. Both are completely free. Conditions for temporary residence have been created in most regions of the country. Volyn, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Transcarpathia, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi and other regions are ready to welcome you. Details are at this link.
Dear residents of Kherson! I ask you to think again about your own safety and the safety of your relatives. Make a choice in favor of evacuation. If you do not plan to leave, I ask you to be as careful as possible during the holidays, do not leave your home without urgent need and remember the rules of two walls. Take care of yourself!
Despite Prokudin’s best efforts, the situation remains complex. Neither has Russian shelling, nor have mandatory evacuation orders compelled many to leave in other regions of Ukraine, like Donetsk or Kharkiv Oblasts, where Russian offensives grind on. Additionally, many of the residents in Kherson now survived occupation and liberation, and as a result, they simply refuse to abandon their home, despite the risk to life and limb.
Tracking Russian Terror
Data: Kherson ODA; National Police; Kherson Oblast Prosecutor’s Office; Oleksandr Prokudin
Situation Report
This week saw the Russian assault on Kherson on the night of 19-20 December, and as a result, most of the casualties from this week resulted from Russian bombardment of the residential areas of the city. The few days earlier in the week were marked more by drone casualties, while the days on which the assault occurred featured artillery performing fires with drones operating in a reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition role. In particular, two men were killed and another eleven civilians, seven men & four women, were injured after the bombardment in the early hours of 20 December, according to the National Police.
As of 20 December, 1413 civilians have been killed or wounded by Russian aggression in the last six months in Kherson Raion. 71 civilians have been killed by shelling, while 558 have been wounded. Another 56 civilians have been killed by drones, while 728 civilians have been injured.
Weekly Civilian Victims of Russian Aggression
Shelling:
Killed: 3
Wounded: 21
Drones:
Killed: 2
Wounded: 13
Total: 39
Data: National Police
Weekly Buildings & Infrastructure Report
Photo: Kherson Police
Private Homes & Apartments: 147
Infrastructure: 31
Data: National Police
Weekly Damaged Vehicle Report
Photo: Kherson Police
Public Transportation: 1
Civilian Auto: 16
Police & EMS: 5
Data: National Police
Sources
Ukrainian Sources:
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/timeline?&type=posts&category_id=2
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/khersonski-iuvenalni-politseiski-evakuiuvaly-matir-iz-synom-z-obstriliuvanykh-vorohom-komyshan
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/na-khersonshchyni-cherez-rosiisku-ahresiiu-odna-liudyna-zahynula-ta-try-poraneni-politsiia-fiksuie-naslidky-atak
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/na-khersonshchyni-vnaslidok-rosiiskoi-ahresii-mynuloi-doby-poraneni-13-myrnykh-zhyteliv-politsiia-fiksuie-naslidky-atak
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/odna-liudyna-zahynula-ta-shche-piat-otrymaly-poranennia-v-rezultati-rosiiskykh-obstriliv-khersonshchyny-politsiia-fiksuie-naslidky
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/odyn-tsyvilnyi-zahynuv-ta-odyn-otrymav-poranennia-politsiia-khersonshchyny-dokumentuie-naslidky-rosiiskykh-obstriliv
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/okupanty-zdiisnyly-masovanyi-obstril-pravoberezhzhia-khersonshchyny-troie-liudei-zahynuly-shche-13-myrnykh-zhyteliv-otrymaly-poranennia
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/politsiia-khersonshchyny-mynuloi-doby-zadokumentuvala-chotyry-voienni-zlochyny-rosiian
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/rosiiany-vcherhove-obstrilialy-khersonshchynu-postrazhdaly-piatero-liudei-politsiia-fiksuie-naslidky
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/voroh-zavdav-kombinovanoho-udaru-po-khersonu-politsiia-fiksuie-naslidky-obstriliv
Військово-Морські сили ЗС України | UA Navy. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/ukrainian_navy/10373
Патрульна поліція Херсонської області. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/patrolpolicekherson/2567
Прокудін Олександр - Офіційна сторінка. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/olexandrprokudin/5236
Прокудін Олександр - Офіційна сторінка. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/olexandrprokudin/5238
Прокудін Олександр - Офіційна сторінка. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/olexandrprokudin/5241
Прокудін Олександр - Офіційна сторінка. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/olexandrprokudin/5242
Прокудін Олександр - Офіційна сторінка. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/olexandrprokudin/5257
Сили оборони Півдня України. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/SJTF_Odes/11885
Сили оборони Півдня України. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/SJTF_Odes/11888
Судоплатов. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/sudoplatov_official/3670
Russian Sources:
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/20459
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/20626
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23014
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23034
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23119
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23120
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23122
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23124
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23131
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23135
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23153
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23154
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23162
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23163
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23164
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23169
English Sources:
(1) Dominik on x: “@GeoConfirmed @GiK1893 https://t.co/BWO4YIKP9O” / x. (2001, December 16). X (Formerly Twitter). https://x.com/99Dominik_/status/1868730945387610617
Dominik on X: “Russian drone dropped grenade on a person in Antonivka 46.681072, 32.689946 Antonivka, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine @GeoConfirmed @giK1893 Source: https://t.co/NL0cBC4vKm https://t.co/S3rYS3Pza8” / X. (n.d.). X (Formerly Twitter). https://x.com/99Dominik_/status/1868730784364044470