A residential area in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine has been targeted in a deadly attack, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people and leaving 13 others wounded. The shelling of the town of Lyman, believed to be carried out by Russia, caused fires in a house, a printing shop, and three cars, which have since been extinguished by rescuers, according to Ukraine’s interior ministry.
This attack comes as Ukraine commemorates the 500th day of the invasion. Ukraine’s counter-offensive, which began last month, continues to advance slowly in the eastern Donetsk and south-eastern Zaporizhzhia regions, while Russia persists in its missile and drone attacks.
Lyman, a significant railway hub in Donetsk, was initially captured by Russia but later retaken by Ukraine’s army in October. Russian forces were reportedly concentrating significant military forces in the area.
The regional governor of Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko, stated on social media that the Russians struck the town with multiple rocket launchers at around 10:00. He confirmed that a house and a shop were damaged in the attack. However, the claims have not been independently verified by the BBC.
This incident follows other recent deadly attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Lviv and Kramatorsk, resulting in multiple casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. Russia has been carrying out missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, frequently hitting civilian targets and causing widespread power outages.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Snake Island to mark the 500th day of the invasion and expressed gratitude to Ukrainian soldiers for their bravery and sacrifice.
While Ukraine’s forces have reported progress in their counter-offensive, the US’s highest-ranking military officer, Gen Mark Milley, warned that the fight against Russia would be challenging and bloody. Ukraine has faced challenges due to a lack of adequate firepower and delays in receiving promised weapons from the West.
In a controversial move, the US announced on Friday that it would provide Ukraine with cluster bombs, a weapon banned in numerous countries due to its tendency to cause harm to civilians. The decision has drawn criticism, but President Zelensky expressed appreciation for the aid.
