In a tragic incident on Sunday, a crowded market in the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, located in eastern Ukraine, became the target of a strike, resulting in at least 25 people dead and 20 others wounded, according to officials backed by Moscow.
Accusations of a sharp escalation in attacks on civilian areas have been exchanged between Moscow and Kyiv over the past two months. Videos shared by Russian state media depict the aftermath of the strike, revealing shattered storefronts, broken glass, and what appears to be bodies strewn on the ground.
Denis Pushilin, the head of the region’s Russian-controlled administration, confirmed the loss of 25 lives and reported at least 20 additional injuries. He unequivocally blamed Ukraine for the strike, denouncing it as a “horrific” attack on a civilian area.
As of now, Ukraine has not provided an immediate comment on the incident, and the circumstances surrounding the attack are yet to be verified independently by AFP.
Officials stated that the strike targeted a southwestern suburb of Donetsk, located less than 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the eastern front. This toll stands as 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 a repeated target of what Moscow alleges to be indiscriminate Ukrainian shelling.
Characterizing Sunday’s attack as a “barbaric terrorist attack,” Moscow emphasized the necessity of its “special military operation” in Ukraine. The Russian foreign ministry asserted that security threats and acts of terrorism should not originate from Ukrainian territory.
