Russia accused Ukraine on Friday of launching a missile strike on a supermarket in Donetsk, a Russian-controlled city in eastern Ukraine, claiming the attack killed two civilians and injured two others.
Russian investigators told state news agency RIA that a U.S.-supplied HIMARS missile was likely used in the strike. Ukraine has not commented on the allegation, and Reuters could not independently verify the claims.
Unverified photos shared on social media showed a charred car outside a heavily damaged, circular two-story building surrounded by debris. Dashcam footage from a nearby vehicle appeared to capture the moment of the strike, showing a massive explosion and flames engulfing the supermarket, identified as Moloko (Milk).
Reuters confirmed the location based on identifiable nearby landmarks matching satellite and street-view imagery. The footage’s time stamp verified the date of the incident.
Officials Blame Ukrainian Forces
Denis Pushilin, a senior Russian-backed official in the region, accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the supermarket during the morning rush hour. Russia’s TASS news agency reported that nearby buildings and approximately 15 vehicles were also damaged in the attack.
Pushilin added on his Telegram channel that another strike allegedly carried out by Ukrainian forces hit an apartment building in Svitlodarsk, also in the Donetsk region. The attack reportedly killed one woman and wounded four others.
The incident adds to the ongoing tension in eastern Ukraine, where clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces have intensified. Russia has consistently accused Ukraine of targeting civilian areas, while Ukraine denies such claims, accusing Russia of using civilian locations for military purposes.
reuters
