Ukraine in fear

Explosions in Crimea, attack on hospital

Destroyed residential buildings after Russian airstrikes on the eastern Ukrainian town of Selydowe

(Bild: Telegram/VadimFilashkin)

Several missile attacks by Russia on the city of Selydowe in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk have damaged a hospital and destroyed a dozen residential buildings. There were also heavy explosions on the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia last night. The Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov is believed to have been destroyed.

Horrific scenes in the eastern Ukrainian city of Selydowe: a hospital was also subjected to heavy air strikes, as the governor of Donetsk announced on Wednesday. According to reports, there are still people under the rubble, including a child.

100 patients are said to have been evacuated to hospitals in nearby towns. The impact on Wednesday night damaged one wing of the hospital. Twelve homes had already been destroyed in Selydowe on Tuesday evening and at least four people were injured. Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports. The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Explosion on Russian landing ship
On the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia, explosions were heard during the night, the Ukrainian telegram channel "Crimean Wind" reported, citing local residents. A video was published that allegedly shows an explosion on the Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov:

Helicopters were said to be circling over the sea after the incident:

Caesar Kunikov

The Caesar Kunikov is a large landing ship of the Russian Navy. It was built in Danzing (Poland) and launched in 1986. She is currently in service with the Black Sea Fleet of the 30th Division. Her home port is in Sevastopol. She was previously deployed in Syria, for example, where she supplied weapons and ammunition to the Syrian Arab Army.

Drones shot down over Russia
Meanwhile, the Russian state news agency RIA reported the shooting down of nine drones launched from Ukraine over the Russian regions of Belgorod and Voronezh and over the Black Sea. The agency referred to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow. Two of the drones were shot down over Russian territory and six drones over the Black Sea. The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, announced on social media that one woman had been taken to hospital with injuries.

Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in their attacks on each other's territory. Both sides claim that their airstrikes, which often take place away from the front line, are aimed at destroying critical energy, military and transportation infrastructure.