Disputed Annexation: Donetsk, Among Four Ukrainian Regions, Remains Uncontrolled by Russia
Ukraine Shells Donetsk: At Least 25 Killed, Officials Report. In a devastating incident, at least 25 people lost their lives and 20 others were injured when Ukrainian forces reportedly shelled the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, as confirmed by Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of the Donetsk region.
The attack targeted a bustling area housing shops and a market, as reported by the city’s Russian-installed mayor, Alexei Kulemzin. Pushilin attributed the shelling to Ukrainian artillery, while there has been no immediate response from Ukraine.
Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded at the site, captured by Reuters photographs and videos, depicting grief-stricken individuals mourning the loss of their loved ones. The ground was stained with blood on the snow, particularly near one of the city’s markets.
As tensions escalate in the region, this tragic event adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing geopolitical strife between Ukraine and Russia. The international community awaits further developments and reactions amid concerns about the humanitarian impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.
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Pushilin said emergency services were working at the scene and that forensic specialists were trying to collect fragments of the weapons used in the attack.
Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian regions which Russia claimed to have annexed last year in a move condemned as illegal by most countries at the United Nations General Assembly. Russia does not fully control any of the four regions.
