5 people killed in Donetsk by Ukrainian shelling

• Separatist leaders and Russian news outlets report artillery strikes in Ukraine, including one on a market.
• Separatist officials have reported five deaths, according to a Russian news agency.
• No independent confirmation of any of the attacks, and no immediate response from Kyiv.

At least five people were killed in an uptick in Ukrainian shelling in the Russian-backed rebel Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Monday, as per separatist officials.

Separatist leaders and Russian news outlets reported artillery strikes in Ukraine, including one on a market. Later, Russian news sources reported that a shell had landed on a maternity hospital in Donetsk, causing a fire and forcing personnel to evacuate patients to the basement.

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Separatist officials have reported five deaths, according to a Russian  news agency .

Denis Pushilin, the separatist commander of Donetsk, has promised to mobilise more Russian forces to counter Ukraine.

A child was among those murdered, according to Russian news sources, while at least 22 people were injured.

They reported the bombardment of the maternity hospital on Monday evening, citing a Russian correspondent.

“Thanks to the quick action of the staff, there were no injuries,” the RIA news agency reported.

Officials had seen reports of the hospital attack, as per UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

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Earlier, the Donetsk News Agency published photos of burning stalls and bodies on the ground at the Maisky market.

From the market, Yan Gagin, an adviser to the separatists’ self-styled government, told RIA news agency, “We had a hit on the market – there were many people here.”