At least 45 mortar shells fired at targets located inside the Rostov-on-Don region have been unleashed by Ukraine’s army, Russia’s border officials said. The barrage destroyed multiple houses and forced an evacuation of civilians.
Investigators say they were examining the site of a previous
shelling near the Primiusskiy hamlet right on the southwestern
edge of Russia on Wednesday, when a cannonade went off from the
other side of the border.
“There is no doubt that those shooting from the Ukrainian
side picked their target, and tried to kill Russian security
officials,” said Investigative Committee representative
Vladimir Markin.
“It is only the poor training of Ukrainian gunners, and the
timely evacuation of Russian officials under the cover of armored
vehicles that thwarted their plan.”
Six houses in the village were damaged, and one woman received a
concussion as a result of a nearby explosion.
“The barrage is continuing from the other side of the border,
and its intensity has not decreased,” said Vasily Malaev,
the regional border service spokesman.
Shells from artillery fights in Ukraine have frequently landed on
Russian territory since the beginning of summer. Primiusskiy was
previously shelled just two days ago.
Осколки от украинских снарядов попали во дворы жителей хутора Примиусский #Ростовhttp://t.co/A3BtZrpOWLpic.twitter.com/979xk2Ei3u
— Новости Ростова (@rostovnews777) July 23, 2014
Earlier this week, a temporary refugee camp for Ukrainians
fleeing the conflict was relocated further from the border, after
several mortars landed nearby.
Additionally, one man was killed and two others received serious
injuries when a Ukrainian shell hit a house in the region earlier
this month.
На хуторе Примиусский под Ростовом разорвались три украинских снаряда http://t.co/U7PioCTZOvpic.twitter.com/vWlors6Bq4
— Харьков новости (@harkovnews) July 23, 2014
At the time, the Russian Foreign Ministry described the incident
as “an act of aggression” and threatened
“irreversible consequences” if attacks were not
discontinued.
Ukrainian officials have denied responsibility, and say that it
is Russia that has been using its artillery to support anti-Kiev
militants in the Donetsk region across the border.