Photo:Vadim Filashkin/Telegram
On Saturday, 22 February, Russian troops conducted another massive air strike on the town of Kostyantynivka in Donetsk region. According to the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Vadym Filashkin, at least two civilians were killed and four others were wounded in the attack.
According to Filashkin, the city was hit by numerous air strikes this morning. Some residential buildings were completely destroyed. Rescuers and medics are working at the site, and an active search and rescue operation is underway. “There may still be people under the ruins of residential buildings, so the search operation continues,” said the head of the JMA.
A preliminary assessment of the extent of the damage shows serious damage: 10 multi-storey buildings, 21 private houses, three industrial buildings, a shop, 16 garages, two power lines, two gas pipelines and nine cars were destroyed or damaged.
Kostyantynivka has been under constant attack by Russian troops in recent days. In the last three days alone, the situation has escalated significantly. On 20 February, four residents were killed by four air strikes and shelling from cannon artillery. On 21 February, one more person was killed and two were injured in repeated shelling. Today’s airstrikes claimed the lives of two more residents and injured four others.
Vadym Filashkin once again called on the residents of Kostyantynivka to evacuate from dangerous areas and stressed the importance of following safety rules during air raids. “The enemy is deliberately hitting residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Every minute can cost lives. Do not ignore the alarms!” he added.
Rescuers continue to dismantle the rubble of the destroyed buildings. There are concerns that there may be more people trapped under the rubble. The authorities promise to provide all victims with the necessary medical and psychological assistance.
Representatives of international organisations and foreign diplomats have already condemned Russia’s latest act of aggression against the civilian population of Ukraine, calling for an immediate end to attacks on civilian objects. Kostyantynivka has once again become a symbol of the brutality of war, and its residents continue to suffer from constant shelling, losing their homes and loved ones.
