Polina Mensjikh, a renowned Russian actress, was tragically killed in an attack targeted at Russian soldiers during an award ceremony in the Donetsk region.
The incident, reported by various media outlets including the Ukrainian news source Kyiv Independent and confirmed by Russian state media Tass, also claimed the lives of up to 25 Russian marines and left over 100 individuals injured.
The event took place on Sunday, where Mensjikh was present as a special guest, performing for the attendees. Footage shared on social media captured the horrifying moment of the attack. In the video, Mensjikh is seen playing guitar and singing before the building shakes violently, leading to a blackout and the abrupt end of the recording.
The motive behind the attack, as stated by the commander of Ukraine’s 59th brigade, Robert Magyar Brovd, was "revenge" for a previous Russian assault on a group of Ukrainian soldiers earlier in the month, resulting in the death of 19 soldiers.
This incident has sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Russian dancer Ekaterina Lazareva mourned Mensjikh's death, her mentor, in a Facebook post: "My mentor is dead. Polina Ivanova Mensjikh was killed yesterday when the location came under fire."
See the video of Polina Mensjikh seconds before the airstrike hits the award ceremony right here:
