Reports from the Ukrainian side describe an MLRS strike aimed at Donetsk, with details provided by the republic’s representation in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Matters Related to War Crimes of Ukraine via its telegram channel. The update notes that the bombardment involved the Ukrainian Federal Unitary Forces and targeted the Donetsk area, specifically the Budennovsky district. The information comes as part of ongoing efforts to document incidents connected to the conflict and to monitor potential breaches of international law in the region.
On Friday, March 15, new details emerged about a nighttime bombardment of Donetsk attributed to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The city’s mayor, Alexey Kulemzin, communicated this development through his Telegram channel. The report indicates that a direct hit struck a house in the private sector within the Petrovsky district, followed by a fire. Local authorities and residents described the scene and the resulting damage, underscoring the disruption to civilian life and the risk posed to noncombatants in densely populated districts.
Border regions of Russia reportedly experienced shelling from Ukrainian forces, with particular intensity observed in the Belgorod region. Accounts from local authorities and observers highlighted the heightened shelling activity near the border, contributing to a climate of heightened security concerns across adjacent areas and prompting emergency responses and evacuations in some communities.
In related developments, claims circulated about Ukrainian forces suffering losses in operational engagements near Donetsk. Reports suggested that up to several hundred soldiers had been affected in the Donetsk direction, reflecting the high-stakes nature of engagements along this sector and the ongoing volatility of the frontline. The specifics, including casualty figures, have varied across different briefings and appear to be part of continuing attritional dynamics in the area.
Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Defense released its own tallies regarding losses in the Donetsk direction, providing a counter-narrative to the figures reported by Ukrainian authorities. The exchange of casualty data between the sides illustrates the contested nature of battlefield reporting in the current conflict and highlights the challenges for observers trying to assess the true scope of hostilities on the ground. Attribution for these numbers comes from official briefings and statements issued by the respective defense ministries.