Russian proxy forces escalate tensions in Donbas by shelling civilian areas
Russian proxy forces in the Donbas have upped tensions in the government-controlled part of Luhansk Oblast, firing not only on Ukrainian military positions in the morning of Feb. 17, but also on several civilian areas.
At about 10:25 am on Feb. 17, the town of Vrubivka (Popasna district, Luhansk Oblast) came under fire.
A 122mm caliber shell hit a playing field of a local school during lessons. Fortunately, there were no casualties among the pupils and staff, director of the school, Olena Yarina, told NV Radio.
However, the school’s windows were broken and the doors of some classrooms were damaged as a result of the attack. The boiler also caught fire.
Parents immediately took their kids home, though some students remained on the school grounds.
Another attack took place at the Kindrashivska-Nova railway station in the town of Stanytsia Luhanska.
The chairman of the board of the Ukrzaliznytsia railway company, Oleksandr Kamyshin, said that station staff had not been injured as a result of the shelling.
The shells also struck one train, as well as several nearby buildings.
The shelling has ceased at the moment, and the train station has resumed normal operations. Experts are assessing the damage.
The most shocking attack by Russian proxy forces occurred in Stanytsia Luhanska this morning, when shells hit a local kindergarten.
Classes were in session when the shell hit the building. While there were no fatalities, two teachers are said to have received concussions and there are unconfirmed reports of children having been injured.
The Joint Forces Operation Headquarters specified that the attacks had been carried out with the use of artillery.
The town’s infrastructure has also been affected, resulting in half of the community being left without power.
In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on all Ukrainian partner states to immediately condemn this flagrant violation of the Minsk peace agreements amid the Russian military build-up on the Ukrainian border.
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