Five Civilians Killed, Seven Injured in Artillery Attack on Villages in Hpruso Township

July 20, 2025

Five civilians were killed and seven others injured when junta forces shelled villages east of Hpruso Inn in Hpruso Township, Karenni State, according to an official from the Central Information and Public Relations Department of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF).

The attack occurred around noon on July 18, when junta artillery units based in Loikaw, Demoso, and Mobye launched continuous long-range artillery fire targeting six villages in the eastern part of Hpruso Township. Among the dead were two women and three men from two of the affected villages.

“About six villages were hit by artillery shells. The total number of shells could be in the hundreds. Some homes and religious buildings were damaged. We can’t confirm the exact number of structures destroyed yet. The deceased included an 18-year-old man, a 30-year-old woman, and two men aged over 40 and 50,” said the KNDF official.