Russian air defense systems intercepted four Ukrainian missiles of the Smerch multiple launch rocket system over the settlements of Topolskoye, Semyonovka and Sukhaya Kamenka, Kharkiv region, said the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov.

Five Ukrainian drones were also shot down.

“Also, Russian fighter aircraft shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft in the Kramatorsk region of the Donetsk People’s Republic,” Konashenkov added.

At the same time, the Russian military hit three command posts, 36 areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a self-propelled artillery battalion of the 14th mechanized brigade, as well as six ammunition depots, including one large depot of 155-mm shells for American howitzers M777.

Konashenkov added that Russian aviation destroyed two command posts, three ammunition depots, 80 areas of concentration of manpower and Ukrainian military equipment, as well as the Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system.

In total, more than 210 nationalists were eliminated by air strikes, 31 units of military equipment were disabled.

Speaking about the work of the missile forces and artillery, he noted that 84 command posts, 463 areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as 137 artillery and mortar units in firing positions were hit.

In addition, 13 tanks and armored fighting vehicles, four Grad multiple rocket launchers and three ammunition depots were destroyed.

Kherson region counts on Russian military base

The entire population of the Kherson region is interested in hosting a Russian military base, said Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the military-civilian administration of the region.

According to him, it is the Russian army that protects the Kherson region from the constant attempts of Ukrainian nationalists to launch rocket attacks on villages and cities.

“There should be a military base of the Russian Federation in the Kherson region.

We will ask for this, and the entire population is interested in this.

First of all, this is vital and will become a guarantor of the security of the region and its inhabitants, ”he said in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

Stremousov also reiterated the intention of the Kherson region to become part of the Russian Federation: “We do not plan to be a separate, independent republic.

Our main task is to be a subject within the Russian Federation.”

“According to our plan for integration into the Russian Federation, we must complete the process of transition to all standards of Russian legislation by the end of the year, and only then we can decide on a referendum and our future status,” explained the deputy head of the military-civilian administration of the region.

In addition, according to him, the Russian language, along with Ukrainian, will become the state language in the Kherson region.

He stressed that there will be no "linguistic stories" in the region.

“We will not infringe on anyone's rights.

Plus, we have a large community of Crimean Tatars living in our region.

We will discuss the expediency of giving the status of the state language to the Crimean Tatar language, as is done in Crimea, at a meeting with the community,” Stremousov concluded.

Restoration of the work of the Kherson commercial port

As Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the military-civilian administration of the Kherson region, said, at present, the opening of the Kherson commercial port is "practically unrealistic."

The reason is that the only exit to the Black Sea in the Dnieper-Bug Estuary near the port of Ochakov, Mykolaiv region, is mined; it is under the control of Ukrainian Nazis.

“When Ochakov and the entire Nikolaev region in general are completely protected from Ukrainian Nazis, then the port will be opened and unblocked,” he explained in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

Also on russian.rt.com From May 23, a dual-currency zone is introduced in the Kherson region

Zaporozhye region joins the ruble zone

The acting head of the military-civilian administration of Melitopol, Galina Danilchenko, provided details on the inclusion of the Zaporozhye region in the ruble zone. 

“In rubles, you can pay for all the services of enterprises, purchase raw materials for the production of your own products, ship products to the buyer and receive ruble proceeds to your current account,” RIA Novosti quotes her as saying.

The day before, a dual-currency zone was introduced in the Kherson region with the rate of “two rubles for one hryvnia”.

At the same time, non-cash payments are made only in rubles.

In addition, the first branch of a Russian bank will be opened in Kherson in the near future.

Danilchenko also noted that more than 80% of the products of Melitopol enterprises are in demand in Russia and other CIS countries.

In particular, spare parts for agricultural machinery and automobiles, electrical equipment, hydraulic equipment, and spare parts for internal combustion engines are produced in the city.

At the same time, according to her, city enterprises can switch to fulfilling defense orders.