The Russian official said that the Ukrainian military launched ballistic missiles at the city of Lugansk, damaging two abandoned buildings and injuring six children.
The leader of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) Leonid Pasechnik said that the attack on the capital city of the same name on the evening of May 12 destroyed or damaged the operating building at a packing facility and a factory. detergent production machine. Both areas have long been abandoned and no one has been killed.
A column of smoke rises after a missile attack in Lugansk on May 12. Image: Ria Novosti
Five houses near the scene also had broken windows. The raid left at least seven people injured, including six children and Russian MP Viktor Volodatsky.
Earlier witnesses said that two explosions rocked the city of Lugansk. Pictures shared on social media showed two large columns of black smoke rising, while Russian media also published images of a building almost completely destroyed.
The site of the missile attack in the city of Lugansk on May 12. Image: Ria Novosti
The city of Lugansk is located far from the location of Ukraine. Lugansk officials said the Ukrainian military used Grom-2 tactical ballistic missiles, combined with US-made decoys to make it difficult for air defense nets.
Grom-2 is a Ukrainian-made ballistic missile with a range of 300 km, carrying a 480 kg fragmentation or concrete-piercing warhead. Russian officials have reported intercepting Grom-2 missiles launched by Ukraine into the Crimean peninsula in early May and April.
The Russian Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian military have not commented on the information.
Russian forces control about 95% of the Lugansk province. It is also one of four Moscow provinces announced to be annexed in October 4, along with Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine protested, saying the move was "worthless" and vowed to take back all of its territory.
Front of the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield. Graphics: RYV
Vu Anh (Follow Ria Novosti, Reuters)
