Russian actress killed doing show for troops near Ukraine front line

A Russian actress has been killed in a Ukrainian strike while giving a performance to troops near the frontline, her theatre has said.

A dance hall in occupied Ukraine where Polina Menshikh was performing was hit by shelling on 19 November.

The actress was giving a show to celebrate a Russian military holiday, according to reports.

Ukraine has claimed 20 Russian soldiers were killed in the strike.

Russia has not commented officially on the claim.

Ms Menshikh was performing in a dance hall capable of seating around 150 people.

A video claiming to show the moment of the strike was uploaded to social media.

Ms Menshikh, is seen on stage singing and playing guitar, before an explosion is heard and the hall's lights go out.

The actress died in hospital from her wounds.

A Ukrainian army spokesperson confirmed the strike to the BBC.

Portal, a theatre studio based in St Petersburg associated with Ms Menshikh said an upcoming performance of a play she had previously directed would be dedicated to her memory.

The strike took place around 60km (37 miles) from the front line, in the village of Kumachove.

Kumachove is located in the Donetsk region, in the area of eastern Ukraine occupied by Russia since 2014. Other areas in the Donetsk region have been hotpots of vicious fighting in recent months, particularly the cities of Avdiika and Bakhmut.

Russian pro-war bloggers criticised the organisation of the show.

A performance with dozens of soldiers in one place watching made it an obvious target for a Ukrainian strike, they wrote.