Kiev’s forces have attacked Donbass cities with NATO-supplied HIMARS rockets and 155mm artillery, killing nine civilians in one strike. 

A series of artillery attacks on residential areas in Donbass on Thursday killed at least a dozen civilians, local media outlets reported. In two attacks on Donetsk city, Kiev’s forces used NATO-supplied howitzers and rocket launchers, Russia’s investigative committee has said.

A strike on a parking lot in the Kalininsky district of Donetsk killed nine civilians and injured seven, according to the authorities. After processing the crime scene, one Russian investigator said the carnage was caused by a volley from a multiple rocket launch system, “most likely HIMARS.”

The US has supplied three dozen HIMARS launchers to Ukraine over the past year, together with long-range ammunition. Another six rounds from 155mm howitzers, also supplied to Ukraine by the West, struck the Petrovsky district on Thursday afternoon. There were no reports of casualties.

Part of Donetsk city also lost power following the rocket and howitzer attack. 

Meanwhile, another artillery strike has targeted a bus station in Lisichansk. Three civilians were killed, one was wounded, and a passenger bus was damaged, local authorities said. Lisichansk is in the Lugansk People’s Republic, with the nearest Ukrainian position about 20 kilometers away.

Ukraine has repeatedly pleaded with the US and its allies to send more artillery ammunition, citing shortages that hampered its efforts to hold onto key strategic points such as Artyomovsk or Avdeevka, or launch the much-anticipated “spring offensive” against Russian forces.

Ammunition for both HIMARS and howitzers was listed in the Pentagon’s most recent package of “security assistance” for Kiev, of which $500 million would come from the US military’s existing stocks and another $2.1 billion purchased from the American military industry.

Donetsk, Apr 7 — DAN. Five civilians have been killed and another 11 have been wounded in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week as a result of Ukrainian army aggression, the Office of DPR ombudsperson Darya Morozova reported on Friday.

“In the period from March 31 to April 6, five civilians were killed and another 11 were wounded, ” it said.

 The DPR’s civilian casualty toll from Kiev regime aggression since January 1 has amounted to 60 dead and 258 wounded. The figures do not include the civilian casualty update for April 7.

Aftermath of Czech MLRS strike at central Donetsk

Donetsk, Apr 7 — DAN. Ukrainian gunmen have fired a Czech multiple rocket launcher at the Voroshilovsky district of Donetsk on Friday afternoon causing civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

 

In Gorky Street, a missile exploded in an apartment building entrance hall damaging a wall and windows. Another missile hit the yard of a neighboring house smashing windows and damaging about ten cars.

Projectiles also impacted on the cafe premises damaging the monument to Yuri Detochkin, a Soviet comedy character and setting several cars on fire. A few of them fully burnt down. A crater was found in the vicinity next to a tram stop and marketplace.

 

 

 

The body of a woman was wound in the market which had taken direct hits. Dozens of trade outlets and steelwork were damaged and merchandise was scattered on the ground. 

Investigative Committee officers and ambulances have arrived at the scene of shelling. Preliminary reports said that the enemy delivered fire from the Kiev-held Ocheretino village using a Czech-made RM-70 Vampire MLRS. Five projectiles were fired overall.

 

 

 

One civilian has been killed and another six have been wounded in the attack, according to the latest update.