Five civilians killed by Russian strikes in the east of the country

At least five civilians were killed on Thursday, July 11, by Russian strikes in the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Kharkiv, in the east of the country, according to local authorities. Russia shelled at least five localities in Donetsk, killing a 15-year-old boy and wounding 12 other people in Myrnograd, Governor Vadym Filachkin announced on Telegram. Two other people lost their lives in Russian fire on the localities of Novosel’ivka Percha and Siversk, according to the same source.

In the Kharkiv region, Governor Oleg Synegubov said at least two people were killed and eight others wounded by a Russian strike on the village of Biliy Kolodiaj, near Vovchansk. The latter town, near the Russian border, has been the target of an offensive by Moscow’s forces since May 10 and is at the heart of the fighting.

Ukraine suffered massive Russian strikes on Monday that killed more than 40 people and devastated Ukraine’s largest pediatric hospital in kyiv, while Moscow claims to only target military targets. Ukraine was promised additional air defense systems to counter Russian bombings at a NATO summit in Washington, as President Volodymyr Zelensky has been ardently demanding.