Russian forces on Tuesday (July 5) continued their advance in Donbas, the industrial enclave of eastern Ukraine that they hope to complete their capture, with the city of Slovyansk in their sights, the target of a massive bombing that killed at least two people.
Pavlo Kirilenko, the governor of the Donetsk region, to which Sloviansk is attached, stated on Telegram that two people were killed and 7 others were injured as a result of these strikes targeting the city’s central market.
AFP reporters who were present during the bombing in Sloviansk saw rockets hit the market and three other nearby streets. The market was on fire, firefighters were trying to control the fire.
“Once again, the Russians are deliberately targeting the places where civilians gather. This is terrorism plain and simple– condemned Mr. Kirilenko, calling for evacuation.
Green progress west
After the fall of Lisichansk on Sunday, the centerpiece of the plan to seize Donbass, Russian forces are advancing westward toward the pre-war city of 100,000.
“Sloviansk! Massive bombing of the city. Center, north. Stay safe everyone”Vadim Liakh, the mayor of the city, warned on Facebook.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to seize the rest of Donbas, which has been partially controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014.
Lysishansk was the last major Kiev-held bastion in Luhansk Oblast, one of two that made up Donbas with Donetsk. As of Tuesday morning, Russian troops were moving west toward Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, the two largest cities in Donetsk Oblast, which are still under Ukrainian control.
Source: Le Figaro
