Russia reported on Saturday that at least 20 people were killed, with 10 others wounded, in Ukrainian shelling targeting the eastern occupied city of Lysychansk. The attack occurred almost two years into Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, specifically hitting a bakery popular on weekends, according to Moscow’s occupation forces.
Lysychansk, situated in the Lugansk region and previously home to around 110,000 people before the Russian offensive, fell to Russian forces after a fierce battle in the summer of 2022. The Russian emergency ministry stated that 20 bodies were recovered from the rubble, with ongoing rescue operations. Video footage depicted rescuers working in darkness, extracting victims from the wreckage.
The Moscow-appointed governor of Lugansk, Leonid Pasechnik, claimed that Kyiv targeted a bakery known for fresh bread on weekends. The Russian foreign ministry alleged the use of western weapons and anticipated “quick and unconditional condemnation” from international organizations.
The front in eastern Ukraine has seen little movement in recent months, but winter attacks persist on both sides. Concurrently, Kyiv reported a fresh barrage of Iranian-made drones launched by Russia, targeting energy facilities in the central Dnipropetrovsk region.
Ukraine’s air force claimed to have downed nine out of 14 Iranian-made drones, most aimed at energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, causing power outages affecting thousands. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the security services for actions against Moscow’s forces and commented on the destruction of a Russian warship off Crimea and a Ukrainian drone strike causing a fire at a Russian oil refinery.