"Although the Tochka-U missile was downed, its falling fragments caused much damage and civilian casualties, which is the worst thing. People were just standing in line at an ATM machine, there were people at a public transport stop. According to preliminary reports, 20 people were killed and nine suffered injuries. There are children among the dead," he said TASS reported.
According to Pushilin, the missile "carried a cluster charge." He added that "had it not been downed, it would have caused a lot more casualties."
Eighteen people were taken to the hospital after the missile had fallen in downtown Donetsk, the region's health ministry said.
Tensions escalated along the line of contact in Donbass on February 17.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the sovereignty of the DPR and LPR (the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics). Subsequent agreements on friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance were signed with their leaders. Putin instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to establish diplomatic relations with the DPR and LPR, and the Russian Defense Ministry was instructed to ensure the maintenance of peace on their territories.
On February 24, Putin announced a "special military operation" based on a request from the heads of the Donbass republics.