At least eighteen people have been killed in a Ukrainian attack on a market in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Another 13 were injured, local authorities said.
“The market was attacked on a Sunday, when it was particularly busy,” the pro-Russian governor of the Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, said on the online service Telegram. Authorities are on site to verify the information. The regional governor had previously spoken of a “terrible bombing”, and the mayor of Donetsk even called it a “barbaric attack”.
Attacks on New Year’s Eve
The large city of Donetsk is located in eastern Ukraine, about 20 kilometers from the front. It has been under the control of pro-Russian separatists since 2014 and has been regularly attacked by the Ukrainian army since then. Russian authorities say four people were killed and 13 others injured in attacks on New Year’s Eve.
Fighting since 2014
Ukrainian forces have repeatedly said they want to retake the occupied territory. Immediately after the occupation, pro-Western leaders in Kiev tried unsuccessfully to regain control of Donetsk and other cities in the Donbass. In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initially recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics as independent states. In the autumn of 2022, the regions were finally incorporated into Russia, together with the partially occupied Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia.
Russians conquer village with five houses
The Ukrainian army confirmed on Sunday that Russian troops had captured a village in the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian forces have now withdrawn from the city. “Our main objective is to save the lives of our defenders and they have been moved to prepared positions where they are now taking up defensive positions to prevent the enemy from advancing further,” the spokesman said. The conquered village consists of only five houses and therefore has no influence on the overall situation at the front.
The Russian army has again gone on the offensive in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suspects that the current frequent attacks are related to this year’s Russian presidential elections (see video above). Putin wants to demonstrate success with his renewed candidacy.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
