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Two Ukrainian Police Officers Killed in Drone Attack While Evacuating Civilians
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A Russian drone attacked the evacuation unit “White Angels” in the Kupiansk region, killing two police officers.
This was reported by the National Police of Ukraine (NPU) on February 20.
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“On February 20, while carrying out their official duties in the Kupiansk district, police officers Yulia Keleberda and Yevhen Kolhan were killed. Another police officer was injured,” the NPU said.
The police explained that the “White Angels” special forces unit was carrying out a civilian evacuation mission when their armored vehicle was struck by a Russian “Lancet” drone near the village of Seredniy Burluk.
As a result of the attack, both officers suffered fatal wounds and died at the scene.
The NPU further noted that Keleberda and Kolhan had been with the “White Angels” unit since its inception, taking part in countless operations in the most hazardous locations, rescuing families, and evacuating children, elderly people, and individuals with disabilities.
It was also mentioned that Keleberda was just 23 years old and leaves behind her parents, while Kolhan, aged 39, is survived by his wife, mother, 16-year-old son, and 7-year-old daughter.
The incident occurred just weeks after Russian forces targeted a vehicle belonging to Serhii Nikorych, the acting head of the village of Oskil, while he was delivering bread to residents in the Pisko-Radkivka district of Kharkiv region.
Oleksandr Tertyshnyi, head of the Borova rural military administration, explained that Nikorych had been the only link providing essential services to civilians living on the left bank of the Oskil River. He had been transporting parcels, money, and pensions, and regularly collecting mail for the people, as little assistance reaches this area.
According to Tertyshnyi, Nikorych was driving his van when it was hit by an enemy drone. The vehicle was engulfed in flames, and Nikorych was hospitalized with a head injury, suspected to be caused by the blast.
Earlier, Russian forces launched an attack on a humanitarian mission in the Kherson region, targeting trucks from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
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