Russian proxies deliberately aim at residential areas / Photo from UNIAN
Head of the Ukrainian group of the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire and Stabilization of Parties' Demarcation Line in Donbas Maj Gen Borys Kremenetsky says that the goal of Russian-backed separatists now is to demoralize and intimidate civilians and discredit the local authorities and the Ukrainian army, according to the Anti-Terrorist Operation's press service.
"Militants from illegal armed groups continue shelling and killing civilians, destroying administrative and industrial facilities, buildings of organizations and institutions in the social sector, which provide jobs to locals and meet their social and cultural needs. Russian-backed militants deliberately aim at residential areas where no [Ukrainian] troops are stationed. Will more death and destruction convince the international community that these illegal armed groups are terrorists?" he wondered, according to the press service.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian-backed militants mounted a heavy attack on the village of Lebedynske (formerly Novoazovsky district) and the village of Sartana (Ukrainian-controlled Mariupol's Illichivsky district) last night, using heavy artillery systems. Two people were killed and six were wounded in the attack. Two of those wounded, including a child, remain in a critical condition.
About 50 houses were damaged, and two were completely destroyed.
The Ukrainian authorities have classified the shelling as a terrorist act.
Mariupol's mayor announced August 17 as a day of mourning for those killed in Sartana.