22-1-2024 (MOSCOW) 27 people lost their lives, and 25 sustained injuries when Ukrainian forces shelled the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, as reported by Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of the Donetsk region, on Sunday (Jan 21).
The targeted area, a bustling part of the city housing shops and a market, faced heavy bombardment, according to Alexei Kulemzin, the Russian-installed mayor of Donetsk. Pushilin, declaring a day of mourning, held Ukraine responsible for the “horrific” artillery attack on a civilian area.
As of now, Ukraine has not provided immediate comments on the incident, and AFP could not verify the circumstances surrounding the attack. The strike occurred in a southwestern suburb, less than 15km from Ukraine’s eastern front.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of a significant increase in attacks on civilian areas over the past two months. Videos shared by Russian state media depict shattered storefronts, broken glass, and what appears to be bodies on the ground.
Witnesses described the horrifying scene, with one resident named Tatiana recalling the sound of an incoming projectile, people screaming, and the aftermath of the strike. Another resident emphasized the civilian nature of the area, stating, “Where is there anything military here? It’s just a market.”
The attack stands as one of the deadliest in Donetsk since Moscow initiated full-scale hostilities against Ukraine in February 2022. Donetsk, under Russian occupation since 2014, has been a repeated target for what Moscow labels as indiscriminate Ukrainian shelling.
Moscow condemned the attack as a “barbaric terrorist act,” asserting the need for its “special military operation” in Ukraine. The foreign ministry stated that security threats and acts of terrorism should not originate from Ukrainian territory.
Coinciding with this tragic event, Russia reported another blaze in its energy infrastructure, this time at a gas terminal in the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga. The fire, described as “currently localized” by operator Novatek, follows recent attacks on Russian oil depots claimed by Kyiv.
