Russian attacks on two towns in eastern Ukraine killed three people and wounded two others, regional authorities reported Tuesday.
An artillery strike on the strategic hub of Pokrovsk hit a residential area, killing two middle-aged men, according to Donetsk regional prosecutors. Russia has intensified its assaults on Pokrovsk in recent months, with forces reportedly advancing to within 8 kilometers (5 miles) of the town’s outskirts.
Earlier in the day, Russian guided aerial bombs damaged two infrastructure facilities in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin said on Telegram. One person was killed and two were wounded in this attack.
Kostiantynivka is located approximately 12 kilometers from Chasiv Yar, a town where Ukrainian forces are attempting to halt Russian westward advances.
Moscow denies intentionally targeting civilians, despite thousands of civilian casualties since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia maintains that its strikes on infrastructure are legitimate military targets aimed at reducing Ukraine’s combat capabilities.