Donetsk: Five civilians killed, 12 wounded: officials

• Donetsk is the de facto capital of the self-proclaimed Donetsk republic.
• More than 200 artillery shells fell on several districts.
• Pro-Russian forces: “Massive enemy bombardments are targeting the capital”.

Five civilians were killed and 12 injured in a Ukrainian bombardment of the eastern separatist city of Donetsk, local authorities said on Saturday.

“As a result of the bombardment by Ukrainian forces, five people were killed and 12 others were wounded in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the local authorities said in a statement posted on Telegram.

Read more: ‘Fierce Battle’ outside Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk

This city is the de facto capital of the self-proclaimed Donetsk republic, in the Donbas coal region located in eastern Ukraine.

Partially controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, the region has been the subject of fierce fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces who launched an offensive in Ukraine on February 24.

Read more: Russia ‘surrender’ ultimatum in Sievierodonetsk expires

“From this morning, massive enemy bombardments are targeting the capital of the republic,” pro-Russian forces said in a statement, adding that more than 200 artillery shells of 155 mm calibre fell on several districts of capital on Saturday.

Russian news agencies reported that the shelling targeted a cinema and a cafe in the city center.