Sporadic shooting has been reported in various parts of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine; fighting has not completely subsided since a major attack by the government troops on Monday. Residents fear a new outbreak of violence.
Shooting was heard in the afternoon on Wednesday in the center of
Donetsk, near the local office of the Ukrainian intelligence
service. It prompted a warning by the mayor’s office, which urged
residents to avoid that area of the city and not to “come
close to the windows, step out onto the balconies or go
outside,” unless it’s really necessary.
The Donetsk self-defense forces later explained it was their
people who were shooting.
“Mass media reported shooting in the area of SBU (Ukrainian
intelligence service) in the center of Donetsk. The self-defense
fighters were targeting a drone. The drone was downed,” the
authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said
on Twitter.
There have also been reports throughout the day of shooting near
the railway station and explosions in the area of the airport.
A fighter jet was spotted over the center of Donetsk, according
to an RIA Novosti correspondent on the ground, who said the jet
was of the same type that took part in the military actions on
Monday, when the area of the Donetsk international airport
witnessed one of the deadliest battles since the Ukrainian army
started a military operation against anti-Kiev activists in the
eastern part of the country.
Various estimates put the number of casualties in the attack on
Monday from 30 to 100 people.
The press service of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s
Republic announced on Wednesday that Kiev’s assault forces had
been driven out of the city’s international airport and fighting
had ceased in that area.
Russia has meanwhile promised humanitarian help to eastern
regions of Ukraine, where goods supplies have been disrupted
because of the military operation. Moscow is seeking Kiev’s help
in ensuring its aid reaches areas blockaded by Ukrainian troops.
“The Russian Foreign ministry sent a note to the Ukrainian
Foreign ministry on May 28, drawing Ukraine’s attention to the
fact that Russia has been receiving urgent calls for humanitarian
aid – especially medication – from people and organizations in
the conflict zones in eastern Ukraine, where many people have
been killed and wounded,” a statement by the Russian Foreign
ministry reads.