World · Malaysia Bureau
Russia claims Ukrainian strike kills three in occupied territory
Moscow says a minibus was hit near the village of Basan Pologi in Ukraine's south, in an area where Russian forces have been conducting operations for months.
LSN Malaysia ·
Russia has accused Ukrainian forces of attacking a minibus in occupied territory, claiming the strike killed three people. The incident allegedly occurred near the village of Basan Pologi, located south of the town of Orikhiv in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region. The area has been the focus of sustained Russian military operations for several months. The circumstances surrounding the attack could not be independently verified. Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the Russian allegations. Orikhiv and surrounding villages remain contested territory, with Russian forces advancing incrementally in the region over recent months. Such attacks on civilian vehicles in occupied areas have become increasingly common as the conflict continues to evolve. Russia regularly accuses Ukrainian forces of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in territories it controls, while Ukraine denies deliberately striking non-military targets. The incident underscores the ongoing humanitarian toll of the conflict in southeastern Ukraine.