Pro-Kremlin officials blamed Ukraine on Sunday for a rocket attack that hit the town hall of Donetsk, a key Ukrainian city controlled by separatists.
At the same time, Ukrainian authorities denounced that Russian rockets had hit a town opposite the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, injuring six people.
The attacks from both sides came as Russia lost ground in the nearly seven weeks since Ukraine’s armed forces opened their southern counteroffensive. Last week, in retaliation, the Kremlin launched what is believed to be its largest coordinated air and missile strikes against key Ukrainian infrastructure since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 february.
The Donetsk municipal building, controlled by the separatists, was badly damaged by the rocket attack. Plumes of smoke swirled around the building, with rows of blown windows and a partially collapsed ceiling. Nearby cars burned.
There were no immediate reports of casualties. Kyiv has not claimed responsibility or commented on the attack.
Kremlin-backed separatist authorities have previously accused Ukraine of numerous strikes against infrastructure and residential targets in occupied regions, often using the long-range HIMARS rockets supplied by the United States, without providing evidence.
For their part, the Ukrainian authorities reported on Sunday that at least six people were injured following rocket attacks in front of the Zaporizhia power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, where Russia has stationed his troops.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian president’s office, said two Nikopol residents were hospitalized following the strikes, which also damaged five power lines, gas pipelines, businesses and residential buildings.
Ukraine’s presidential office and regional authorities also reported that Russian rockets destroyed two schools, a park and houses in the southern region of Zaporizhia. Since Moscow illegally annexed it along with three other Ukrainian provinces last month, Russian bombardment has continued.
The annexation announcement came despite the fact that some 20% of the city of Zaporizhia remains under Ukrainian military control. Some analysts describe the recent large-scale strikes as part of a Kremlin strategy to conquer the region.