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, within the Starobeshivskyi district in Russian-occupied Ukraine. This area lies about 37 miles from the active conflict zones of the Russo-Ukrainian War, where the incident took place.
The missile strike that led to Menshikh’s death happened on November 19, 2023. This date is significant as it aligns with the Day of the Russian Missile Forces and Artillery, a day commemorated by the Russian military. At the time of the strike, Menshikh was in the midst of entertaining Russian soldiers at a local dance hall. It’s reported that the strike was carried out using a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
In the aftermath of the strike, casualties included at least 25 Russian soldiers, alongside Menshikh, and more than 100 injured. Video footage of this tragic moment, which has since been widely shared, shows Menshikh engaging in a musical performance. She is seen singing and playing the guitar just before a sudden explosion brings an abrupt end to the recording.
Menshikh had a background as a choreographer and theater actress, predominantly working with the St. Petersburg theater. Official confirmations of her death came from both Russian and Ukrainian sources, with Ukraine acknowledging the strike as a component of their military strategy.
This missile attack is perceived as a counteraction to a previous offensive by Russian forces on November 3, which resulted in the deaths of no less than 20 Ukrainian soldiers.
