Russian strikes on Ukraine’s southern Kherson area killed 18 individuals and wounded dozens on Wednesday, Kyiv stated, as authorities launched a curfew in the principle metropolis of Kherson beginning Friday.

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The strikes got here as Ukraine prepares for a spring offensive.

Kherson metropolis — from which Russian forces withdrew final November — lies close to the frontline in southern Ukraine.

“As of now, we know of 18 dead and 46 wounded,” the pinnacle of the Ukrainian presidential workplace, Andriy Yermak, stated on Telegram.

“Russian attacks on Kherson continue. They are hitting civilians.”

Ukrainian police stated Russia had shelled the town, together with the “construction of a hypermarket, a railway station, a gas station, a supermarket and a residential building”.

Officials stated close by villages have been additionally shelled.

Earlier, native Kherson prosecutors known as the assault “massive” and stated 12 of the victims have been killed within the metropolis and others in close by villages.

“On the morning of May 3, Russian troops began the massive shelling of the city of Kherson and the region’s settlements,” the prosecutors stated.

Officials had earlier stated three individuals died in a strike on Kherson’s solely working hypermarket.

The prosecutors stated three workers of a “power engineering team” have been killed by shelling between the close by villages of Stepanivka and Muzykivka.

Officials additionally introduced Wednesday that Kherson will likely be beneath curfew for 58 hours from Friday.

Long curfews have been utilized by Ukrainian authorities up to now to facilitate troop and arms actions.

The head of Kherson’s regional army administration Oleksandr Prokudin stated the curfew would final from 1700 GMT on Friday till 0300 GMT on Monday.

“During these 58 hours, it is forbidden to move on the streets of the city. The city will also be closed for entry and exit,” Prokudin stated on Telegram, advising residents to fill up on meals and drugs.

He stated residents may go for brief walks close to their homes or go to outlets however ought to carry id paperwork with them.

“Such temporary restrictions are necessary for the law enforcement officers to do their job and not put you in danger,” he wrote.

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Kherson was captured by Russian troops final 12 months within the first days of the invasion and remained beneath Russian occupation till November 2022.

Russian forces withdrew from the town, crossing to the jap aspect of the Dnipro River which now delineates a part of the entrance line in southern Ukraine.