The recent reporting from multiple agencies describes a significant incident in Donetsk on New Year’s Eve, tied to a clash between Ukrainian forces and factions aligned with the Donetsk People’s Republic. According to a release cited by TASS with reference to the operational services of the DPR, Ukrainian forces conducted an attack that targeted the heart of Donetsk, marking a moment of heightened aggression as the year closed. The report notes that the strike occurred in the city center and acknowledges casualties, with the total number of losses not yet finalized as investigators assess the aftermath on the ground. [Source attribution: TASS via DPR operational services]
Earlier updates from Donetsk municipal authorities indicated that civilian harm occurred in the Petrovsky district as a result of a drone-launched attack. The city’s mayor, Alexey Kulemzin, confirmed injuries to three civilians: a 40-year-old woman, a 30-year-old man, and a 19-year-old boy. The details surrounding the drone incident have been framed by authorities as part of ongoing hostilities, with medical personnel providing care to those hurt in the incident. [Source attribution: Donetsk City Administration statements]
On another front, a separate UN Security Council briefing delivered by Vasily Nebenzya, who serves as Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, provided additional context on the scale of cross-border shelling since early 2022. Nebenzya highlighted that the DPR has been subjected to thousands of shelling incidents, noting that more than 25,000 exchanges involving the Armed Forces of Ukraine have occurred and that roughly 145,000 projectiles have struck the DPR. The discourse emphasized the impact on civilian life, with more than 16,000 houses and over 3,500 civilian infrastructure facilities reported as damaged as a result of the shelling. [Source attribution: UN Security Council briefing]
In related diplomatic exchanges, there were remarks from a U.S. State Department spokesperson characterized in reporting as a reaction to the shelling in the Belgorod region, a topic that has repeatedly surfaced in discussions about regional security and humanitarian consequences. The statements reflected ongoing concern over the broader pattern of cross-border violence and its effects on civilian populations, infrastructure, and local governance. [Source attribution: U.S. State Department statements]