0
0
A bombardment targeted a bustling market in the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, resulting in a reported 25 fatalities and 20 injuries on Sunday, according to officials aligned with Moscow.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged accusations of a significant increase in attacks on civilian areas over the past two months.
Videos circulated by Russian state media displayed shattered storefronts, broken glass, and what seemed to be lifeless bodies near the market.
Denis Pushilin, the head of the region’s Russian-controlled administration, attributed the strike to Ukraine, condemning it as a “horrific” assault on a civilian zone.
Ukraine did not immediately respond, and the circumstances of the attack were not immediately verifiable by AFP.
The strike reportedly hit a southwestern suburb of Donetsk, less than 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the eastern front.
Residents described the harrowing scene, with one witness, Tatiana, recounting hearing an incoming projectile, seeking refuge under her market stall, and witnessing the aftermath with smoke and people in distress. Another resident named Tatiana emphasized the civilian nature of the market and characterized the strike as one of the most powerful in recent times.
This toll marks one of the deadliest incidents in Donetsk since Moscow initiated full-scale hostilities against Ukraine in February 2022. The city, under Russian occupation since 2014, has been repeatedly subjected to what Moscow claims is indiscriminate shelling by Ukraine.
Moscow labeled the attack as a “barbaric terrorist attack,” asserting the necessity of its “special military operation” in Ukraine and emphasizing that security threats and terrorism should not emanate from Ukrainian territory.
In a separate development, Russia reported a fire at a gas terminal in the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga. Kyiv had earlier claimed responsibility for attacks on Russian oil depots, including one in the same region as Ust-Luga.
Operator Novatek reported no casualties, and the fire was said to be “currently localized.” The cause was attributed to an “external factor,” with Ukraine, known for targeting Russian oil and gas infrastructure, yet to comment on the incident.
The Ust-Luga complex processes natural gas condensate into naphtha, jet fuel, and ship fuel components, as per Novatek’s website.
