Russians heavily bombarded Kherson and attempted an assault near the Antonovsky Bridge, resulting in one casualty (video) - updated.

On the early morning of Friday, December 20, around five o'clock, Russians launched a massive artillery strike on Kherson, igniting fires in residential buildings and injuring civilians. The enemy also attempted to strengthen its position near the Antonovsky Bridge.

Update 7:35 The number of casualties in Kherson has increased to six, reported Mrochko. It has also been confirmed that a 60-year-old man has died. He was inside a building at the time of the enemy strike.

Update 7:25 Alexander Prokudin reported that enemy shelling of Kherson and its suburbs from the temporarily occupied left bank continues. Russians are targeting residential areas, critical infrastructure, and social facilities, resulting in injuries.

"Enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups attempted to advance towards Kherson but were immediately detected and eliminated by our Defenders… Difficult days lie ahead. The tense situation will persist throughout the holidays, so do not go out onto the streets unless necessary," added the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, urging people to evacuate.

"There is a massive shelling of the city of Kherson! Stay in shelters," reported in Telegram the head of the Kherson City Military Administration Roman Mrochko at 5:04.

At 5:47, he added that the shelling of Kherson is ongoing. There are numerous hits in apartment buildings, with reports of injured civilians.

"A 76-year-old resident of Kherson was admitted to the hospital in serious condition. As a result of the morning's massive shelling by Russian occupation forces, he sustained a blast injury and shrapnel wounds to the chest. Another 63-year-old man has been hospitalized with a concussion, blast injuries, and closed traumatic brain injuries," he later informed.

Shortly after, news emerged of a third victim. This is a 44-year-old man with blast injuries and traumatic amputation of fingers on his right hand.

The head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration Aleksey Prokudin confirmed the shelling of the regional center. He had warned of the danger of massive artillery strikes from the temporarily occupied left bank since the evening before.

The Telegram channel "Mykolaiv Vanyek" informed that coastal settlements from Kherson to Olhivka, as well as Chernobayivka, were under fire from Russian artillery. The Russians were firing chaotically.

"They are firing without adjustment, not accurately. There are initial reports of fires in residential buildings," the message states.

Attention! The video contains profanity.

Local journalist Konstantin Ryzhensko, author of the Telegram channel "KHERSON: Non fake," reported that the Russians also deployed reconnaissance drones over the territory of Kherson. According to him, Russia's operation is linked to attempts to gain more advantageous positions along the left bank of the Dnipro River and the islands. Enemy assault groups are showing activity in the area behind the Kankovsky Bridge on the left bank.

Most enemy strikes in the Kherson area targeted the Shipbuilding District and Antonovka. At least five fires have been recorded.

"Dozens of homes belonging to civilians in the city have been damaged, and there are casualties," the message states.

"Mykolaiv Vanyek" explained that this shelling is connected to the Russians' attempts to occupy the area around the Antonovsky Bridge (Nairi area). He added that this was not unexpected for the Ukrainian military, leading to an engagement.

"The assault groups (there were two) did not reach their destination, or rather — did not make it across the water. The fight ended before it really began. The situation today is stable," the message states at 6:18.

As reported by "Telegraph," the Russians are striving to reoccupy Kherson. The spokesperson for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army South, Sergey Bratchuk, assessed whether they have the strength to cross the Dnipro.