Three killed in artillery attack on Donetsk market - separatist news agency

At least three people including a child were killed and four injured on Monday by Ukrainian artillery at a market in the Russian-backed separatist Ukrainian region of Donetsk, the province's news agency said. The news agency said 155-mm caliber NATO-standard artillery munitions hit parts of the region on Monday. Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports.

At least three people including a child were killed and four injured on Monday by Ukrainian artillery at a market in the Russian-backed separatist Ukrainian region of Donetsk, the province's news agency said. The Donetsk News Agency showed pictures of burning stalls at the central Maisky market and at least one body on the ground. The news agency said 155-mm caliber NATO-standard artillery munitions hit parts of the region on Monday.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that the main immediate reason for what he casts as a "special military operation" was to protect the Russian speakers of Donbas from persecution and attack by Ukraine.

Ukraine and its Western backers say Russia is waging unprovoked war against a sovereign state which is fighting for its existence. Kyiv says Russia's claim of persecution of Russian speakers is a baseless pretext for the invasion.