At least 11 people were killed and 30 others injured in a Russian strike on Dobropillya, a town in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Ukrainian authorities reported on Saturday.
The attack, which occurred late Friday, resulted in significant damage to eight residential buildings and an administrative facility, according to the regional emergency service.
Located northwest of Russian-controlled Donetsk city, Dobropillya was struck amid a surge in hostilities across the region.
Emergency services were still assessing the extent of the damage and searching for survivors amid the wreckage of shattered buildings and scorched streets.
In a particularly deadly tactic, Russian forces reportedly launched a second strike targeting emergency responders who had rushed to the scene to battle the ensuing fires and assist the wounded.
Ukrainian officials condemned the attack as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, emphasizing the deliberate targeting of rescue workers as a grave escalation in the conflict.
Local residents, many of whom were caught off guard by the late-night strike, described scenes of chaos and devastation.
“It was terrifying — the whole building shook, and windows shattered everywhere,” said Olha, a Dobropillya resident, who took shelter in her basement with her family. “When we came out, there was fire and smoke all around.”
The attack on Dobropillya comes in the wake of heavy fighting in surrounding areas. On Thursday night, Ukrainian prosecutors reported that five people were killed in separate Russian strikes across the Donetsk region.
The intensifying assaults have underscored the ongoing volatility in eastern Ukraine, where both sides continue to engage in fierce battles for strategic control.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the latest strikes, calling them acts of terror against civilians. In a video address, he vowed that Ukrainian forces would respond decisively to protect the nation’s sovereignty and ensure justice for the victims.
Zelensky also renewed calls for increased international military support, including advanced air defense systems, to safeguard Ukrainian towns and cities from further attacks.
International reaction was swift, with the European Union and the United States condemning the strikes and reiterating their support for Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the targeting of civilians and emergency workers as “inhumane” and called for accountability.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that additional military aid for Ukraine was being expedited in response to the escalating situation.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also expressed deep concern over the rising civilian casualties in eastern Ukraine.
The agency reported that humanitarian corridors have been severely impacted by the ongoing shelling, hindering efforts to deliver essential aid to affected areas.
As emergency crews continue to clear debris and search for survivors in Dobropillya, local officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and seek shelter during air raid alerts.
The attack has added to the mounting toll of the conflict, which has already claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
With no signs of de-escalation, the people of Dobropillya and other frontline towns face an increasingly uncertain and perilous future.