KYIV: Russian forces killed five civilians on Thursday in eastern Donetsk, a region where Moscow has focused its offensive amid ongoing conflict.
The Kremlin, which claimed annexation of Donetsk months after initiating its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, continues to intensify its operations there.
According to regional prosecutors, Russian forces targeted a village near Kostyantynivka, a key civilian area in the industrial zone, resulting in the deaths of a married couple.
An 85-year-old resident was fatally injured inside a residential building, while attempts to save his wife were unsuccessful despite emergency treatment.
In another incident, Russian forces attacked Grodivka, leading to the deaths of three women aged 26, 32, and 77, as reported by prosecutors. Three additional civilians sustained injuries in separate assaults across the region.
Ukrainian troops, facing superior Russian forces, have struggled to defend against relentless offensives in Donetsk and surrounding areas in recent months.
