According to local authorities, renewed shelling by Ukrainian artillery in Donetsk city on Wednesday resulted in the death of one civilian and the injury of another. The Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) reported that several residential buildings in the Kirovsky district were destroyed or damaged, resulting in the death of a 70-year-old man. Additionally, an electrical utility in the nearby Yasinuvataya area was targeted, causing injury to a 48-year-old man.
Photographs posted on Telegram showcased the destruction of residential homes on Leontovich street, where the 70-year-old man lost his life. The images also showed that a dog had died in the rocket strike. It has been revealed that cluster munitions, specifically “dual-purpose improved conventional munitions” (DPICM) for 155mm howitzers, supplied to the Kiev government by Washington were used in the evening on a residential area in the Kievsky district. These cluster bombs were sent to Ukraine by the US due to a shortage of conventional high-explosive ordnance, as President Joe Biden admitted.
The use of cluster munitions, which are banned by many countries, including most of Washington’s NATO allies, has led to Russia accusing the US of complicity in Ukrainian war crimes. CNN reported that Ukraine’s government submits reports on the use of these munitions to the Pentagon. It is important to note that the Ukrainian military has been regularly shelling civilians in Donetsk since 2014 when local residents declared independence following the US-backed coup in Kiev. Last week, there were two days of artillery attacks that resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to 13 others, with the use of cluster munitions also reported.
The most significant shelling occurred on August 8, when approximately 350 rounds were fired, resulting in three deaths and 11 injuries. The next day, in the Petrovsky district, Ukrainian artillery destroyed a residential building, killing a four-year-old girl and an elderly resident. Two other civilians were also injured in the incident, which Donetsk Mayor Aleksey Kulemzin described as the building being “obliterated.”
It is worth mentioning that Russia recognized the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as independent states in February 2022. These regions, alongside Zaporozhye and Kherson, have since become part of Russia following referendums held in September last year.
The situation in Donetsk remains highly volatile, with the ongoing shelling causing significant loss of life and damage to residential areas. The use of cluster munitions continues to be a major concern, with their impact on civilians and potential violation of international law. The involvement of outside forces, such as the US, through arms supplies has further complicated the conflict and raised questions about their responsibility for the consequences. As the situation unfolds, efforts must be made to address the root causes and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict in order to protect civilian lives and restore stability to the region.
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