A 40-year-old Russian actress lost her life during a Ukrainian missile strike while performing for Russian troops in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
The actress, identified as Polina Menshikh, was in the midst of a performance at a cultural event held in Kumachove, a village within the Starobeshivskyi district in Russian-occupied Ukraine. This location is approximately 37 miles from the war front of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The fatal incident occurred on November 19, 2023, during the celebration of the Day of the Russian Missile Forces and Artillery, a military holiday in Russia. Menshikh was entertaining a group of Russian soldiers in a dance hall when Ukrainian forces initiated the missile strike. The attack was reportedly executed using the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
The strike not only claimed Menshikh’s life but also resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Russian soldiers. A video capturing the event, which has been extensively circulated, depicts Menshikh singing and playing the guitar. The video abruptly ends with a loud explosion.
Menshikh’s career spanned choreography and theater acting, with notable contributions to the St. Petersburg theater. Her death has been officially acknowledged by both Russian and Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian officials confirmed their responsibility for the strike as a part of their ongoing military operations.
The motive behind the attack is believed to be in response to an earlier assault by Russian forces, which occurred on November 3 and led to the deaths of at least 20 Ukrainian soldiers.
