The leader of Donetsk, a Russian-controlled region of eastern Ukraine, denounced an attack by kyiv in which at least 25 people were killed and 20 wounded. Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed responsibility for an attack on a Russian gas terminal in the Baltic Sea, triggering a fire and the suspension of operations. In addition, Russia claims that it controlled a village in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.
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Donetsk lived a day marked by multiple bombings. According to the head of the Russian-controlled region in eastern Ukraine, Denis Pushilin, 25 people were killed and 20 injured in attacks. Pushilin claimed that they were perpetrated by Ukraine.
Casualty figures have been the subject of discrepancies, as Alexei Kulemzin, the city's Russian-appointed mayor, had previously reported 18 dead and 13 injured on his Telegram channel.
The Donetsk leader described the incident as “monstrous”, detailing that the shelling was carried out with artillery fire, combined with 152 and 155 millimeter caliber shells. However, he assured that investigations into the incident continue.
The affected market, located in the Tekstilshchik microdistrict, southwest of Donetsk, is located a few kilometers from the front line and is exposed to the range of Ukrainian artillery.
Images captured by Reuters at the scene reveal scenes with people crying, some saying they have lost their relatives, while the bodies lie in the snow.
Ukrainian authorities have so far not commented on the event, and The Associated Press (AP) news agency said it has not been able to independently verify the claims made by Russian authorities.
Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia annexed into its territory last year. This after referendums considered illegal by the majority of countries in the United Nations General Assembly, including Ukraine.
This attack in Donetsk occurs in a context of intensified fighting on the Ukrainian eastern front. During the winter, Ukrainian and Russian forces fought for positions along the front line, with no major gains for either side.
According to AP, recent Russian attacks have sought to find gaps in Ukraine's defenses by using large quantities of various types of missiles in an apparent effort to overwhelm air defense systems. While kyiv has carried out massive bombings—firing more than 500 drones and missiles between December 29 and January 2. Some that sow doubts about the reserves that said country could still have.
Ukraine attacks gas terminal in Russia
A Russian terminal in the Baltic Sea, operated by Novatek, Russia's main producer of liquefied natural gas, suffered a fire after an attack by Ukrainian drones. The magnitude of the situation led Novatek to suspend some operations at the Ust-Luga complex, located in the Gulf of Finland, about 170 kilometers west of St. Petersburg.
The terminal produces light and heavy gasoline, jet fuel, fuel oil and diesel, a key component for international shipments of processed products.
The incident forced employees to evacuate and suspend operations.
Ukrainian military intelligence claimed responsibility for the attacks and stated that a Ukrainian drone hit the terminal, sparking a fire.
According to reports, the terminal processes fuel destined for the Russian Army, which is why the attack has been classified as strategic. Ust-Luga is located 35 kilometers from the border with Estonia and almost 1,000 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. In fact, it is not the first time that an incident like this has occurred; two attacks against Russian crude oil deposits claimed by kyiv had already been recorded this week.
Russia takes control of a village in Kharkiv
In parallel to these attacks, Russia claimed that it took control of Krokhmalne in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. The information was released by the Kremlin's Defense Ministry. In addition, a Ukrainian military spokesman – cited by Reuters – confirmed that kyiv forces had withdrawn.
Ukraine sought to downplay the Russian advance. The Ukrainian military spokesman, Volodymyr Fitio, stated that he has no relevance at the level of the war situation in general.
“Our main objective is to save the lives of our defenders and they were transferred to previously prepared positions where they now maintain defenses to prevent the enemy from advancing further,” Fitio stated. Furthermore, he explained that only about 45 people lived in the town before the war.
The seizure of Krokhmalne comes shortly after Moscow assured on Thursday that they had taken control of a settlement called Vesele, in Donetsk.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
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