At least nine injured in massive Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk, pro-Russian authorities say
At least nine civilians were injured Thursday in a bombardment on Donetsk, a separatist stronghold in eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian authorities said, claiming it was the Ukrainian strikes “most massive” on the city since 2014, when it fell under the control of pro-Russian separatists, sparking a conflict with kyiv. According to Oleksi Kulemzin, the head of the Donetsk administration, Ukrainian troops fired 40 Grad rockets at the city. According to him, these rockets hit apartment buildings, offices, a church or even a school and a sports field. He also reported shelling of Donetsk by Ukrainian forces with 155mm caliber shells. The manager has disseminated photographs on Telegram showing numerous impacts and burning buildings with fire engines. Mr Kulemzin mentioned at least six injuries, while the territorial defense of Donetsk reported nine injuries, including a child.
The city of Donetsk has been the target of deadly Ukrainian fire on several occasions in recent weeks. In early December, at least six people were killed in shelling, according to local pro-Russian authorities. The head of the Ukrainian military administration of the Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, meanwhile reported, on Thursday, two dead and four injured in Russian bombardments on areas under kyiv control near Donetsk.
Russia claimed in September the annexation of four Ukrainian territories that it controls at least partially, including the Donetsk region. Since the withdrawal of Russian forces from the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, most of the fighting has taken place in the east, particularly in Bakhmout.