In January, the Kherson region in southern Ukraine faced a string of incidents reported by local authorities and officials amid ongoing hostilities. A Telegram channel associated with regional administrator Andrei Alekseenko relayed details about multiple strikes and their effects, signaling a period of elevated fighting and civilian disruption. The information suggests that the region continued to experience pressure on both military and civilian fronts as the conflict persisted into the new year.
Alekseenko described attacks targeting high-rise residential blocks on Bukina Street in Novaya Kakhovka and on Kakhovskaya Street in Tavriysk. The reported strikes damaged apartments and shattered dozens of windows, leaving residents to cope with significant property damage and a sudden loss of personal security in their homes. The descriptions emphasize the vulnerability of urban areas where civilian apartments are intermingled with crucial daily life spaces.
Additional damage was reported as Ukrainian forces were said to have set fire to a gas station in Novaya Kakhovka and damaged a nearby grocery store building. A civilian communications tower atop a high-rise building was also hit with heavy munitions, further disrupting essential services and connectivity in the area. The official characterized these actions as deliberate strikes against infrastructure essential to everyday life, underscoring the humanitarian impact of the fighting. Despite the reported destruction, Alekseenko noted that no one was injured in these particular incidents.
The same update referenced a separate incident on January 8, when drones used by Ukrainian forces were said to have attacked a vehicle from the Aleshkinsky ambulance brigade parked at the Central Regional Hospital. Authorities reported that there were no casualties, though the event highlighted the proximity of combat activity to medical facilities and the challenges such proximity poses to civilian life in wartime conditions.
Earlier, on January 5, Governor Vladimir Saldo announced that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would be deployed from the start of 2025, with reinforced bombardment of settlements in the region. The statement indicated a strategic shift aimed at increasing military pressure and their ability to strike across populated areas, raising concerns about civilian safety and the broader humanitarian situation in Kherson.
In addition, there were reports of evacuations of residents from parts of Kherson region under Ukrainian control, reflecting ongoing efforts to move civilians away from danger zones as fighting continued. The combined narratives from regional authorities and military observers depict a landscape where civilian life remains precarious, with homes, services, and daily routines disrupted by ongoing operations and counter-operations.
The broader context shows a region caught in the crossfire of a protracted conflict, with both sides presenting competing accounts of events and motivations. For residents, the immediate concern remains securing shelter, access to essential services, and clear information amid competing claims. International observers and humanitarian actors continue to call for de-escalation and protection of civilians, while local officials stress the need for caution as the security situation evolves.
Overall, the incidents cited by regional authorities in January underscore the persistent vulnerability of civilian life in Kherson. The authorities maintain that the incidents did not produce injuries in the described moments, even as property damage and service disruptions were evident. The narrative points to a broader pattern of urban areas facing direct risks to housing, utilities, and connectivity as the conflict continues to unfold in southern Ukraine.