Explosion in Melitopol

BY A STAFF REPORTER: A Russian-appointed official in the occupied territory of southern Ukraine reported several explosions in the town of Melitopol. Vladimir Rogov, a member of the council of civil-military administration in the Zaporizhia region, said, "Explosions are heard in Melitopole. A series of explosions were heard in the city. An explosion was very powerful. According to preliminary information, the cause of the explosion in Melitopole was that AFU (Ukrainian Armed Forces) fighters tried to launch missiles into the city. "Russia's air defense system worked," he said.

Ukraine's mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, said powerful explosions were heard throughout the city. A witness to the blast said a plane was shot down in the Melitopol area late Tuesday night. "This is the first time in all days of full-scale combat that a plane has been shot down over us," witnesses said. Witnesses added: "There were six rockets or missiles. Three were shot down by air defense forces, but the remaining missiles hit targets. '