At least 27 civilians were killed and 25 injured at a market in the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk on Sunday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation released a statement that a market in the suburb of Tekstilshckik was shelled on Sunday, causing civilian fatalities and injuries. The suburb is located less than 15 kilometres from the frontline of the Ukraine-Russia war.

The statement credited the attack to Ukraine and stated that:

It was established that the shelling was coming from Avdeyevka, which is still controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and that the types of weapons supplied by the West were used. This is further confirmation of the Western countries’ direct involvement in the conflict, implicating them in the criminal acts committed by the Zelensky regime.

The ministry condemned the “treacherous attack on civilians.”

Ukraine’s armed forces denied these accusations, stating, “We responsibly declare that the forces under the command of the ‘Tavria’ OSUV, in this case, did not conduct combat operations with means of destruction.” They also expressed that Russia would have to take responsibility for the lives lost, “Donetsk is Ukraine! Russia will have to be responsible for the lives of Ukrainians taken.”

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed on X his condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones during the “most brutal Russian attacks… in [the] Donetsk region.” He went on to say that “Russia will be held accountable for all this terror – it must be.”

The UN Human Rights Spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, deplored the killing of civilians and emphasised the necessity of investigation:

It is crucial that thorough, prompt and independent investigations be carried out to determine the facts and responsibility for this attack. The investigation should establish whether this attack violated applicable law on the conduct of hostilities, with a view to ensuring accountability.

As of Sunday the OHCHR verified “10,287 civilians killed and a further 19,444 injured since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022.”

Attacks on civilian and civilian infrastructure are strictly prohibited under both international humanitarian law and international criminal law. Such actions are deemed war crimes, subject to prosecutions by the International Criminal Court. States or individuals found responsible for these crimes can be held accountable before the court.