Ukraine hits hotels in Melitopol and Kadiivka with HIMARS

Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-installed occupation “official” in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, has reported that Ukraine’s army attacked a hotel in Melitopol, as per his Telegram channel.

At the moment, the total number of casualties stands at 10, according to Yevgeny Balitsky, another occupation “official,” TASS says. 

Rogov also claims Russia’s air defence systems took down two missiles while the rest “reached their target”. Photos and footage published by Rogov show debris of missiles, said to be HIMARS ones.

At the same time, Ivan Fedorov, the legitimate mayor of Melitopol, says the fire is burning at the local church which Russians “captured several months earlier and turned it into a den for their gatherings,” also adding that the death toll is way higher. Citing locals, he says that around 200 Russian servicemen have been killed, their bodies are now being delivered to Crimea’s hospitals. “Too many 200s [killed] and 300s [dead],” he wrote on his Telegram.

“It’s hot in Melitopol. More than 10 loud bangs heard in all districts of the city 💥💥💥 the occupiers are in a fuss. Let’s wait for some good news from the Ukrainian army,” reads his Telegram.

Another hotel in Kadiivka, the Luhansk region, has been destroyed following a HIMARS attack, TASS cites the local occupation “authorities”.

“The missile hit a local private hotel near the central market, the hotel was closed. There are rescuers there, clearing out the rubble,” says an occupation “official”.

A Telegram channel allegedly run by Alexander Simonov, a “war correspondent”, reports that PMC Wagner fighters were inside the hotel when it was attacked.

Various Ukrainian Telegram channels have also reported the incident.