In the Donetsk People’s Republic, authorities reported that Donetsk came under fire from Ukrainian forces for the first time today after a day marked by shelling. The statement was issued in a report through the DPR representation at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues related to war crimes in Ukraine, known as the JCCC. The report indicates that the Ukrainian Armed Forces opened fire from positions in Avdiivka at 06:50 local time, targeting the Donetsk region. Four artillery rounds described as 152 mm caliber were directed at the Kiev region. Earlier, Donetsk mayor Oleksiy Kulemzin stated that Ukrainian artillery units shelled residential areas, stressing that the strikes hit peaceful neighborhoods. Leading up to this, Kulemzin had noted that Ukrainian forces had fired at the city repeatedly since the inception of the Russian special operation. In the reported tally, the city had been struck thousands of times since the operation began. At present, Russia’s military operation in Ukraine continues. President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of what he described as a special operation on February 24, 2022, with the stated aims of demilitarizing Ukraine and placing its authorities under new governance. The decision to commence the operation has been cited by Western governments as a basis for imposing new sanctions against Russia and its allies. The situation remains fluid as authorities continue to monitor and document shelling incidents and their impact on civilian life and regional stability.
