Russian troops have been accused of using stun grenades and firing guns to disperse a rally of pro-Ukrainian protesters in Kherson, with CCTV footage showing people fleeing as military vehicles advance.

Loud bangs and gunfire can be heard amid clouds of smoke.

“Russian security forces ran up, started throwing stun grenades into the crowd and shooting,” the Ukrainian armed forces’ press service said in a statement.

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It said at least one person was wounded but that it was unclear how they received their injuries.

The video showed some protesters returning to the square.

One man in a black hat strolled back, stopped across the road from Russian troops and stood there on his own, holding a small Ukrainian flag above his head.

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Journalist Max Seddon from the Financial Times tweeted about the incident, saying: “Russian troops opened fire on a peaceful crowd in Kherson, where regular protests have gone on since they captured it.

“Also seem to have used flash-bang grenades. There are reports (and videos) of wounded civilians.”

And Wall Street Journal Yaroslav Trofimov tweeted a video purportedly showing people injured by the shots.

These videos have not been verified by Sky News.

On Sunday, video seen by Reuters showed dozens of protesters, some wrapped in Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag, chanting “Go home” in Russian at two military vehicles with Russian markings.

The city of Kherson, a regional capital of about 250,000 people, was the first big urban centre to fall into the hands of Russian troops after they invaded Ukraine on 24 February.

Read more: A glimpse inside Kherson, the city occupied by Russian forces, through the eyes of a Ukrainian resistance volunteer

Since then, groups of residents have staged regular rallies protesting against the occupation and showing their support for the government in Kyiv by waving Ukrainian flags.

Earlier this month, the Ukrainian authorities said members of Russia’s National Guard had detained more than 400 people in Kherson region for protesting against the occupation.

It accused Russia of trying to create a police state there.

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