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.
Polina Menshikh was performing at a cultural event in the village of Kumachove, located in the Starobeshivskyi district of Russian-occupied Ukraine. This village is situated approximately 37 miles from the front lines of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. The tragic event unfolded during her performance.
The missile strike occurred on November 19, 2023, a date that coincides with the Day of the Russian Missile Forces and Artillery, an established military holiday in Russia. Menshikh was entertaining Russian soldiers in a dance hall when the Ukrainian forces initiated the missile strike. Reports indicate that the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System was used in the attack.
This assault resulted in the loss of life of at least 20 Russian soldiers, in addition to Menshikh. Video footage of the incident, which has been widely circulated, captures the harrowing moments leading up to the explosion. In the video, Menshikh is observed singing and playing the guitar, moments before the loud explosion abruptly terminates the recording.
Menshikh, whose professional background included choreography and theater acting, was notably affiliated with the St. Petersburg theater. Her death was confirmed by authorities from both Russia and Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials acknowledging their involvement in the strike as part of their military actions.
The attack is speculated to be a retaliatory response to an earlier assault by Russian forces on November 3, which led to the deaths of at least 20 Ukrainian soldiers.
