Russian
troops are planning to launch an attack with Grad multiple rocket
launcher systems on the occupied city of Kherson, and then accuse
Ukrainian troops of carrying it out in a “false flag” operation,
Odesa regional administration spokesman Sergey Bratchuk said on April
18.
"Kherson residents report that the Russian occupiers are preparing a provocation in the city near the Antonovsky Bridge — deploying GRADs to fire at Kherson and accuse the Ukrainian Armed Forces of this,” Bratchuk wrote on his Telegram channel.
“This will be given as the reason to ‘save’ the city by holding a referendum there," Bratchuk said.
Russia’s attempts to establish a sham “Kherson People's Republic” in Kherson Oblast have failed, as citizens have made it clear to the occupiers that they are not wanted in the south of Ukraine.
"We stress that the Ukrainian military never shoots at the civilian homes of peaceful citizens. It is important to publicize these (Russian) plans,” Bratchuk wrote in his message.