← Latest briefing

World News

Kherson governor urges evacuation as Russian strikes damage critical infrastructure

Intensifying bombardment has threatened long-term electricity and heating outages in the southern Ukrainian city.

The short version

  • Kherson Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin advised residents, particularly families with children and the elderly, to leave the city.
  • Glide bomb strikes severely damaged Kherson's district heating plant, creating risks of extended utility disruptions.
  • Russian forces positioned across the Dnipro River continue daily attacks targeting local critical infrastructure.

Key facts

  • Kherson Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin urged residents, especially families with children and elderly individuals, to leave the city due to severe infrastructure damage.[France 24]
  • Russian forces hit Kherson's district heating plant with glide bombs, inflicting major damage on the facility.[France 24]
  • Prokudin warned that the city faces the prospect of power and heating outages lasting for extended periods rather than brief disruptions.[France 24]
  • Kherson had a population of roughly 280,000 before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.[France 24]
  • Russian troops occupy positions across the Dnipro River from Kherson following their withdrawal from the city in November 2022.[France 24]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact duration of the anticipated power and heating outages and the timeline for repairing the district heating plant remain unspecified.[France 24]

Sources