Donetsk, Ukraine – Ukrainian forces have reportedly shelled a busy suburban shopping area in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 people. Local officials have confirmed the casualties and say that another 20 people, including two children, have been injured in the attack. Russian-installed mayor Alexei Kulemzin stated that Ukrainian artillery had fired on the district, which houses shops and a market. The Russian-appointed head of the Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, added that emergency services were at the scene. The area was hit by shells of 155mm and 152mm caliber, fired from the west.
Photographs and videos taken at the scene show distraught individuals, some of whom have lost relatives, and bodies lying in the snow near the market. Witnesses describe the chaos and panic that ensued as smoke filled the air and people screamed. The attack has caused significant damage to shopfronts and broken glass can be seen in videos shared by Russian state media. Local residents expressed shock and disbelief, questioning why a market area was targeted.
The Russian foreign ministry condemned the strike, describing it as a terrorist attack and accusing the Kyiv regime of lacking political will for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Ukrainian government has not commented on the incident, and the claims made by both sides have not been independently verified.
Donetsk is one of the four Ukrainian regions that Russia claimed to have annexed in 2022. The move was deemed illegal by most countries at the UN general assembly, but Russia does not have complete control over any of these regions. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a fire broke out at a chemical transport terminal in Russia’s Ust-Luga port after two explosions. Regional officials reported that Ukrainian drones had attacked the port, causing a gas tank to explode. No casualties have been reported.
The situation in Ukraine remains volatile, with daily fluctuations in the frontlines. Ukrainian military officials dismissed Russia’s capture of the village of Krokhmalne in Kharkiv region as a temporary occurrence. They stated that the frontlines are shifting constantly and that Ukrainian troops have been positioned in reserve to defend their positions and prevent further Russian advances. The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces claimed that Russia has lost hundreds of thousands of troops since the start of the war, including casualties from the past day.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in significant human suffering and loss of life. It continues to have far-reaching geopolitical implications, as international condemnation and efforts to find a peaceful resolution persist.