Ukraine Accused of Shelling Russian-Held City of Donetsk, Fatalities Reported - Tensions Escalate with Retaliatory Attacks

Ukraine has been accused of firing artillery rounds at the Russian-held city of Donetsk, resulting in the deaths of at least three people and injuring three others. The city, occupied by Russia and its proxy forces since 2014, has been the target of what Moscow has called indiscriminate Ukrainian shelling. Video distributed by Russian state media showed bodies on the street and significant damage. Ukrainian forces allegedly fired the rounds from a Grad multiple rocket launcher system, a claim that AFP was not able to immediately verify.

In retaliation, Ukraine claimed that Russia fired shells at its military and civilian areas, launching rocket attacks at least 86 times in the past day. The ongoing conflict between the two countries has resulted in accusations of a sharp escalation in attacks on civilian areas over the past two months. Additionally, Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks in Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine on Monday wounded at least one person and damaged several homes, according to governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The situation between Ukraine and Russia remains tense, with both sides pointing fingers and exchanging accusations of attacks and escalating violence.