Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, at least 27 people have lost their lives, and 25 others sustained injuries after a market was shelled, as reported by local authorities.
The incident has ignited fresh accusations and blame between Moscow and Kyiv, further intensifying the ongoing conflict in the region.
Denis Pushilin, the head of the Moscow-installed authorities in Donetsk, swiftly pointed fingers at the Ukrainian military for the deadly attack in the suburb of Tekstilshchik.
According to Pushilin, the assault involved 155mm and 152mm calibre artillery, originating from the direction of Kurakhove and Krasnohorivka to the west. He declared a day of mourning to honour the victims.
“These terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime demonstrate its lack of political will towards achieving peace and the settlement of this conflict by diplomatic means,” remarked Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement, laying the blame squarely on Ukraine. Meanwhile, there has been no immediate response from Ukrainian authorities.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing that such assaults on civilians and civilian infrastructure are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law. The UN spokesperson underscored the imperative need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address, did not directly address the incident in Tekstilshchik but revealed that Russia had bombarded over 100 cities, towns, and villages in nine regions of Ukraine on the same day. Zelenskyy expressed particular concern about the severity of the attacks in the Donetsk region.
Contrary to the accusations, Ukraine’s forces in the southern zone denied responsibility for the market shelling, stating in a Facebook post, “Donetsk is Ukraine! Russia will have to answer for taking the lives of Ukrainians.”
The Donetsk and Luhansk regions in southeastern Ukraine, collectively known as the Donbas, have been under the control of Moscow-backed separatists since 2014.
Russian President Vladimir Putin formally recognized these regions as separate republics before launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, resulting in their annexation by Russia in September 2022.
In a separate development on the same day, Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed control over the village of Krokhmalne in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region. Ukrainian forces reportedly withdrew from the area, with Moscow asserting its dominance.
Volodymyr Fityo, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ground Forces Command, downplayed the significance of the withdrawal, stating that Krokhmalne was a small village with a population of roughly 45 people before the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Fityo emphasized that the withdrawal had minimal consequences for the overall situation.
As the war in Ukraine approaches its two-year mark, both Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to engage in static positions along the approximately 1,500km front line.
Recent Russian attacks have attempted to exploit gaps in Ukraine’s defenses, utilizing a barrage of various missiles in an apparent effort to saturate air defense systems.
The international community watches anxiously as the conflict in Ukraine takes a tragic toll on civilians, raising concerns about the prospects for a peaceful resolution and the ever-growing humanitarian crisis in the region.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts urgently needed to quell escalating tensions and prevent further loss of life.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members