Deadly Shelling in Donetsk Shopping Area: 25 Killed, Dozens Injured
A bustling shopping area in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, located in eastern Ukraine, was struck by deadly shelling, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 people and leaving dozens injured. The incident occurred when Ukrainian forces fired artillery on the busy suburban district, which houses shops and a market. The Russian-installed mayor of Donetsk, Alexei Kulemzin, confirmed the attack, while Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of the Donetsk region, stated that emergency services were working at the scene.
The suburb of Tekstilshchik was targeted by 155mm and 152mm calibre shells fired from the direction of Kurakhove and Krasnohorivka to the west, according to Pushilin. The aftermath of the shelling was captured in photographs and videos taken by Reuters, showing devastated shopfronts, broken glass, and bodies lying in the snow near one of the city’s markets. Witnesses described the chaos and devastation they witnessed, with one resident named Tatiana recounting how she sought shelter under her market stall upon hearing an incoming projectile. Another resident expressed disbelief at the attack, stating that the area was simply a market and not a military target.
Russia’s foreign ministry condemned the strike, denouncing it as an act of terrorism committed from Ukrainian territory. The ministry accused the Kyiv regime of lacking political will to achieve peace through diplomatic means. Ukraine has not yet commented on the event, and the claims made by Russian officials have not been independently verified.
Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia claimed to have annexed in 2022, a move that was widely condemned as illegal by most countries at the UN General Assembly. However, Moscow does not exercise full control over any of these four regions.
In a separate incident, a fire broke out at a chemical transport terminal in Russia’s Ust-Luga port following two explosions. Regional officials reported that Ukrainian drones had attacked the port, causing a gas tank to explode. While there were no casualties, the area was placed on high alert. The fire occurred at a site operated by Novatek, Russia’s second-largest natural gas producer, located 100 miles southwest of St Petersburg. Novatek stated that the fire was the result of an “external influence” and that operations at the port had been paused.
The Russian defence ministry did not report any drone activity in the Kingisepp area, where the port is located, in its daily briefing. However, it did confirm the downing of four Ukrainian drones in the Smolensk region and two more in the Oryol and Tula regions. Previously, Russian officials acknowledged the downing of a Ukrainian drone on the outskirts of St Petersburg.
These incidents come as Ukraine’s military downplayed Russia’s capture of the small village of Krokhmalne in the Kharkiv region, referring to it as a “temporary phenomenon.” Ukrainian ground forces command spokesperson Volodymyr Fityo stated that the frontlines were shifting daily, and Ukrainian troops had been relocated to prepared reserve positions to hold the defense and prevent further Russian advances.
The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces released figures claiming that Russia had lost 376,030 troops in Ukraine since the start of the war. These numbers, which have not been independently verified, include 760 casualties in the past day alone. The release also detailed the weapons, vehicles, and defense systems Ukraine believes Russia has lost during the conflict.
As investigations into these incidents continue, tensions between Ukraine and Russia remain high. The international community closely watches developments in hopes of finding a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.