The city of Lisichansk in Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) experienced a tragic incident when a Ukrainian cluster munition exploded near a bus, resulting in the death of two people and 29 injuries. Local authorities report that among those injured is a child. This attack comes after Leonid Pasechnik, head of the LPR, revealed via his Telegram channel on Tuesday that “Ukrainian nationalists today attacked Lisichansk, using a cluster munition.
The city administration also confirmed this incident, mentioning that the shelling took place near a bus stop around 11:45 am. LPR Health Minister Natalya Pashenko shared details about the victims and the wounded. She stated that one passenger was killed at the scene while another man succumbed to his injuries in the hospital after suffering a severe wound to his heart. At least 18 others, including a 12-year-old child, have been hospitalized in critical condition.
Several doctors from various localities within the LPR rushed to provide assistance to the wounded individuals in Lisichansk, as reported by Pashenko. This incident highlights Russia’s repeated accusations against Ukrainian forces for firing artillery and missiles indiscriminately, which have led to numerous civilian casualties and infrastructure damage in Donbass.
Earlier this month, Pasechnik mentioned that Kiev’s military had launched at least eight ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) and four Storm Shadow missiles at the LPR’s capital of Lugansk. While Russian air defenses managed to intercept some of these incoming rockets, it is believed that the attack caused damage to a fuel depot and several residential buildings in the area.
Similar incidents occurred around the same time in Donetsk and Makeyevka in the neighboring Donetsk People’s Republic, which were also targeted by Ukrainian shelling. The recent explosion near a bus in Lisichansk is yet another example of how indiscriminate attacks are causing devastating consequences for civilians caught in the crossfire between Russia and Ukraine.