Children die as terrorists shell Ukrainian homes

The enemy shelled the city of Vuhlehirsk on January 18. A shell completely destroyed a single-family house, killing two brothers, aged 7 and 16, while an 8-year-old girl was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The parents were absent at the time of the shell hitting the house.

According to the press service of the Donetsk Oblast State Administration (OSA), the injured girl was taken to the burn ward of the Kramatorsk City Hospital. The doctors had to amputate a lower extremity of the child. “The child is in a serious condition with burns over 30 percent of her body and a severe head injury. The girl receives all necessary medications, the doctors take all measures needed to save her life,” the press service’s report reads.

“We have not seen such a shelling of residential areas for a long time. The city was calm in day hours of January 19, but we were hearing distant shots,” mayor of Vuhlehirsk Mykhailo Martynov told The Day. “Those who could and wanted to leave have already left the city. Those who would like to leave, but cannot, turn to us, and we help them. We have had no requests for help lately, though, as people are hiding in their basements. I am not allowed to divulge details of the family which has lost children in this latest attack. Their relatives are in the state of shock. All the victims were taken out of the city, as we have no specialized hospital.” According to Martynov, the municipality supports war victims to the best of its ability, including with food parcels. Vuhlehirsk is also hoping to get help from local and international volunteer organizations.

The militants carried out a shelling of the city of Debaltseve in the morning of January 19. “The city center was hit with 15 to 20 shells. Many people have been hurt, some children have suffered serious injuries, homes have been destroyed. Officers of the Debaltseve City Police Department are working at the scene. The police are removing rubble and helping to evacuate the wounded,” the Donetsk Regional Chief Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (CDMIA) of Ukraine reported on its website. According to preliminary data, three people have died, including a man and his son born in 2003 as well as an 88-year-old woman. We know about 12 wounded already. The press service of the Donetsk OSA reported that an 8-year-old girl with a concussion was being treated at the Central City Hospital of Debaltseve.

“In connection with all the deaths and injuries of people affected by illegal paramilitary formations’ shellings of residential areas of Donetsk region, the investigating authorities have opened criminal proceedings under Art. 115 Pt. I (Murder) and Art. 15 Pt. II, Art. 115 Pt. I (Attempted murder) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” head of the Donetsk Regional CDMIA Viacheslav Abroskin declared following the shelling of Vuhlehirsk.