The Donbass Palace Hotel in Donetsk was subjected to shelling by Ukrainian forces, a development reported by TASS in coordination with operational services. The city’s emergency teams confirmed that the Palace district experienced artillery exposure, marking a tense moment for residents and observers alike as the New Year period shifted into a subsequent phase of unrest. In the wake of these events, the broader operational services of Donetsk reported increased activity as the conflict flow continued to unfold around key urban landmarks and districts.
Prior to these incidents, representatives from the Donetsk People’s Republic at the Joint Control and Coordination Center for war crimes matters in Ukraine provided details indicating that the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a salvo of 15 rockets from multiple launch rocket systems in Donetsk shortly after the New Year began. The description highlighted the scale of the artillery strike and its geographic focus within the city, underscoring ongoing hostilities that have repeatedly tested civilian infrastructure and public safety measures.
Additionally, three 155 mm cluster munitions were reported to have struck the Petrovsky district, adding to the tally of ordnance that impacted the city center and surrounding neighborhoods. The reporting agencies noted the nature of the munitions and their dispersion pattern, which contributed to the broader assessment of imminent risks faced by residents, workers, and visitors in the area.
In comments following the attacks, Denis Pushilin, the president of the Donetsk People’s Republic, stated that roughly seven individuals were injured as a result of the Ukrainian bombing. He also noted that fire targeted the Kalininsky and Budennovsky districts, along with the central portions of the city, reinforcing concerns about damage to civilian life, transit routes, and essential services. The remarks emphasized the human toll and the disruption to daily routines that normally anchor urban life in Donetsk.
Earlier, U.S. officials reacted to shelling in Belgorod with statements detailing the broader implications of cross-border hostilities and humanitarian concerns. The public responses from Washington reflected ongoing diplomacy and the fragile state of regional stability, even as local authorities and international observers called for de-escalation and a commitment to humanitarian protections.