A 40-year-old Russian actress lost her life during a Ukrainian missile strike while performing for Russian troops in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine.

Polina Menshikh was performing at a cultural event in the village of Kumachove, Starobeshivskyi district, around 37 miles from the front lines of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War when the incident occurred.

The attack took place on November 19, 2023, coinciding with the Day of the Russian Missile Forces and Artillery, a military holiday in Russia. Menshikh was entertaining Russian soldiers at a dance hall when Ukrainian forces launched a missile strike, reportedly using a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

The strike resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Russian soldiers in addition to Menshikh.  Widely circulated video footage captures the tragic moment. In the video, Menshikh can be seen singing and playing the guitar before a loud explosion abruptly ends the recording. She died in the hospital of her injuries.

Menshikh, a choreographer and theater actress, was known for her work at the St. Petersburg theater. Her death was confirmed by both Russian and Ukrainian officials, with the latter acknowledging the strike as part of their military operations.

The attack is believed to be a response to a previous assault by Russian forces on November 3, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Ukrainian soldiers.