In the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a strike on Sunday resulted in at least 25 deaths and 20 injuries.
The information was confirmed by officials backed by Moscow and reported by Reuters. The attack happened in a busy southwestern suburb close to Ukraine’s eastern front. Russian state media showed videos of the devastation, including shattered shops and bodies on the ground.
The regional head, Denis Pushilin, blamed Ukraine for the strike, calling it a terrible artillery assault on civilians. Donetsk local Tatiana recalled the chaos, describing people’s panic and a smoke-filled scene.
Another resident, also named Tatiana, stressed the market’s civilian nature, questioning the presence of military targets. She noted the attack’s intensity.
This incident is among the deadliest in Donetsk since Russia intensified its conflict with Ukraine in February 2022. Donetsk has been under Russian occupation since 2014 and frequently faces shelling, which Moscow attributes to Ukraine.
Moscow denounced the attack as a brutal act of terrorism, using it to justify its military actions in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry called for a halt to security threats and terrorism from Ukrainian territory.
Following the strike, a day of mourning was declared. Denis Pushilin stated that emergency and forensic teams were on-site. This event heightens ongoing tensions, with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of targeting civilians.
