Russia Says Key Kherson Bridge Attacked With HIMARS as Region Evacuates

Ukrainian forces reportedly attacked a key bridge over the Dnieper River in the Kherson region with 12 HIMARS missiles Thursday night, killing at least four and injuring 13, according to Russian authorities.

Russian air defense units shot down 11 of the missiles, but one landed by the Antonivsky Bridge that is used to cross the Dnieper in the Russian-occupied region, Russian news agency Interfax reported Friday.

Newsweek was unable to independently verify whether Ukrainian forces were responsible for the missile strike and the number of casualties. A Bulgarian military news website and a Ukrainian new site confirmed the attack.

The Ukrainian paper reported that Russian forces were moving military equipment and troops by crossing the Dnieper and heading to the left bank.

Kirill Stremousov, a deputy head of administration in the Kherson region, said that one woman and three men were among those killed, Interfax reported.

Sergei Eliseev, the Russian government chairman of the occupied region, said that there were minors and journalists hit in the attack, according to Interfax.

"Thirteen people were injured. Everyone's condition is different, there are severe cases. They have been operated on, so far they cannot be transported within a day. After that, decisions will be made on the need for transportation to Crimea," Kherson region Minister of Health Vadim Ilmiev told reporters.

Russia is evacuating civilians from the occupied Kherson as part of a plan to move up to 60,000 civilians across the Dnieper to other Russian-occupied areas in the next few days. Ukraine told residents not to comply with the evacuation orders.

Vladimir Saldo, the region's Russian-installed acting governor, said that the evacuation was necessary as Ukraine was "building up forces for a large-scale offensive" and that Russia wanted to protect its citizens.

"Already about 15,000 residents, having listened to the recommendations of the leadership of the Kherson region, moved to the left bank of our region," Stremousov said on Telegram on Tuesday, according to a Google translation.

A Newsweek map (above) shows Ukrainian forces advancing from the north and the northeast as of October 19 while Russians abandon territory.

Ukrainian forces from Mykolaiv moved southeast toward Kerson into territory that Russians don't have much control over. Soldiers west of Nikopol moved south to northeast of Kherson.

Recent advances in the region indicate that Ukraine might be edging closer to regaining control of the city, according to a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report.

Newsweek reached out to the Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces for comment.