ISTANBUL
At least 25 other people were killed and 20 others wounded on Sunday in a shelling of the Ukrainian city of Donetsk, which is currently under Russian control.
“At the moment, information about 25 deaths has been confirmed. At least 20 more people were injured, including two children in moderate condition,” Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed head of the Donetsk region, said on Telegram.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the incident and accused Ukraine and the West of committing a “barbaric terrorist act,” saying those affected “will suffer inevitable punishment. “
Indicating that the investigative committee had opened an investigation, the ministry claimed that the shelling was carried out from the Ukrainian-controlled city of Avdiivka with “weapons supplied through the West. “
“Russia calls on all guilty governments and applicable foreign structures to strongly condemn this brutal terrorist attack,” he said, adding that the attack demonstrates “Ukraine’s lack of political will for peace and the settlement of the conflict through diplomatic methods. “
Moscow and kyiv have traded accusations over airstrikes that escalated in late December.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “strongly condemned” the attack, according to his spokesperson.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, adding to today’s shelling of the city of Donetsk in Ukraine,” the spokesperson said, adding: “Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under foreign humanitarian law, are unacceptable and must be prevented immediately. “