DONETSK, July 27 (RIA Novosti) – The Ukrainian Army shelled the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Region, with five people reported killed, a militia representative told RIA Novosti on Sunday.
According to the militia, as a result of the shelling in Avdiivka, several apartments in the local hostel were completely destroyed. The shells also hit residential buildings, damaging the gas pipe in one of the houses. The latest reports suggest, that five civilians died and more than ten were injured.
Avdiivka is a city located 11 kilometers away from Donetsk. Europe’s second largest chemical plant is located there.
Earlier reports suggested that Ukrainian Army also shelled the neighboring city of Horlivka, hitting the maternity clinic and the building of the Donbassenergo power plant. The witnesses reported at least ten casualties.
Earlier on Sunday, a large convoy of Ukraine’s National Guard armored vehicles entered the city of Shakhtarsk in Donetsk Region. If the Ukrainian Army occupies the city, they will be able to sever the main road leading to Luhansk and Russia and the cities of Donetsk, Horlivka and Makiivka, currently controlled by the independence supporters, will be completely surrounded.
The military operation launched by Kiev in the south-east of Ukraine has been ongoing since mid-April, when the Luhansk and Donetsk Regions refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government. The fighting intensified after Donetsk and Luhansk regions proclaimed themselves independent people’s republics. Hundreds of people, including civilians have died in both regions over the past months.
Russia has repeatedly urged the Kiev authorities to stop the bloodshed in the region.
