On Sunday, tragedy struck as at least 25 people lost their lives, and another 20 suffered injuries in the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, following shelling by Ukrainian forces.
Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of the Donetsk region, disclosed this grim toll. The Russian-installed mayor of the city, Alexei Kulemzin, further detailed that the shelling targeted a bustling area that housed shops and a market.
Attributing the attack to Ukrainian artillery, Pushilin’s statement did not elicit an immediate response from Ukraine. Disturbing images captured by Reuters at the scene depicted grieving individuals, some recounting the loss of their relatives, while lifeless bodies lay on blood-soaked snow near one of the city’s markets.
In response to the tragic incident, emergency services were promptly deployed to the affected area, with forensic specialists working to collect fragments of the weapons employed in the assault. The aftermath of the shelling underscores the ongoing volatility and human cost of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
It’s essential to note that Donetsk is one of the four Ukrainian regions that Russia claimed to have annexed last year, a move that garnered widespread international condemnation at the United Nations General Assembly.
Despite these claims, Russia has not achieved full control over any of these regions, contributing to sustained tensions and conflicts in the area. The recent violence adds another layer of complexity to the already fraught situation, raising concerns about the humanitarian impact and the potential for further escalation.
