Rising toll of civilian casualties amid Russia-Ukraine conflict escalation

In recent days, there have been increasingly bloody attacks by the Russian army on Ukrainian civilians. Meanwhile, the Russians claim that several residents of Donetsk were killed as a result of actions by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and shelling of the city. Russian media claim that among the victims were two children.

The shelling of Donetsk was supposed to happen on Tuesday, with shells falling on the Sokól market in the Tekstilshchik district, where earlier, according to the Russians, two men and one woman were killed. Meduza refers to information provided by the head of the self-proclaimed DPR, Denis Pushilin.

The Russians claim that the UAF shelled the market with artillery. The mayor of occupied Donetsk, Alexei Kulemzin, also reported the death of three people and injuries to five residents - Meduza reports, citing Kulemzin. Independent media could not confirm these reports.

Donetsk, the capital and largest city of Donbas, has been under Russian occupation since 2014.

Meanwhile, in recent days, it is the Russians who have intensified airstrikes on various parts of the country, targeting civilians. Bloody attacks are taking place throughout Ukraine. On Wednesday, September 4, in Lviv, seven people were killed, including three children. At least 38 people were injured, including several children. As a result of the strike, a residential building in the city centre near the train station caught fire. Two schools were also damaged.

In Lviv (just 69 kilometres from Poland) at least seven people were killed as a result of renewed Russian airstrikes. Three of the fatalities were children - announced the mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi.

However, on Tuesday, September 3, according to Ukrainian reports, in an attack on the city of Poltava in central Ukraine, at least 51 people were killed and 271 were injured. It was one of the most devastating Russian strikes since the start of the war. Kremlin missiles hit a military academy and a hospital.

Let us recall that the Donetsk People’s Republic was established on May 12, 2014, by pro-Russian separatists. On September 30, 2022, Donetsk was annexed by Russia.