Deadly Shelling in Russian-Occupied Donetsk, Ukraine: At Least 27 Killed
In a severe escalation of conflict in eastern Ukraine, at least 27 people were reported killed and 25 others wounded in a shelling incident on Sunday at a market in the outskirts of Donetsk, a city under Russian occupation. Denis Pushilin, the local Moscow-installed leader, claimed that Ukrainian shelling was responsible for the attack, which included casualties among children.
The incident occurred in the suburb of Tekstilshchik and could not be independently verified by external sources like The Associated Press. The Ukrainian government in Kyiv has yet to comment on the allegations.
This winter has seen an increase in longer-range attacks from both sides amid a largely static front line in the near two-year conflict. Pushilin stated that the shells originated from areas to the west of Donetsk, specifically Kurakhove and Krasnohorivka, with emergency services responding to the aftermath.
The U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, underscoring the prohibition of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure under international humanitarian law. The Russian Foreign Ministry labeled the strike a “terrorist attack” and squarely blamed Ukraine.
In a related development on Sunday, a fire erupted at a chemical transport terminal in Russia’s Ust-Luga port after two explosions. Local media attributed the incident to Ukrainian drone attacks, which allegedly caused a gas tank to explode. Novatek, Russia's second-largest natural gas producer and the operator of the site, cited "external influence" as the cause of the fire and halted operations at the port.
The Kingisepp district, where the port is located, did not report any casualties but was on high alert. Reports of drone activity near St. Petersburg were also noted, but these remain unverified.
Russia's Defense Ministry did not confirm any drone activity in the Kingisepp area in its daily briefing but reported the downing of Ukrainian drones in other regions. Moscow previously confirmed the downing of a Ukrainian drone on the outskirts of St. Petersburg on Thursday.
On the front line, Russia claimed control over the village of Krokhmalne in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, a claim confirmed but downplayed by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian Ground Forces Command spokesperson Volodymyr Fityo emphasized preserving the lives of Ukraine's defenders over holding the small settlement.
Recent Russian military strategies have involved extensive use of missiles and drones, attempting to exploit gaps in Ukraine's air defenses and deplete its weapons stockpiles. Ukrainian officials reported over 500 drones and missiles launched in a span of five days, highlighting the intensive nature of the conflict.
