The major city of the eastern Luhansk area, which is around 100 km (60 miles) behind the frontlines, was hit by missiles launched by Ukrainian troops, which also wounded six children, a Russian lawmaker, and destroyed two abandoned factories, according to Russian-installed authorities on Friday.
Authorities in Luhansk claimed in a Telegram message that two “grom” tactical missiles built in Ukraine had damaged or destroyed administrative buildings at a packaging plant and a facility that makes cleaning supplies in the city of Luhansk. Five residences’ windows had been blasted out, it said.
The message was accompanied with a picture of a structure that had been mostly destroyed and just one wall remained.
The leader of the area that Russia seized last year, Leonid Pasechnik, said that six kids had been hurt. Viktor Volodatsky, a member of the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, was also hurt, according to officials.
Videos shared earlier on social media showed a dense black column of smoke rising above Luhansk, which is around 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border.
Analysts hypothesized that Ukraine may have utilized a new missile with a greater range since the city is distant from Ukrainian defenses.
Pasechnik said that the purpose of the assault was to sabotage the local Republic Day festivities in the area.
The assertions could not be supported by Reuters. The alleged attacks received no immediate official response from Kiev.
According to locals, the Suspilne Donbas television station in Ukraine reported explosions in the city.
Most shorter-range missiles, like the HIMARS provided by the United States, which Ukraine has mostly used in the war thus far, are unable to reach it.
The longest rockets sent to Ukraine by its Western friends were numerous longer-range cruise missiles that can reach targets at a range of 300 kilometers, according to reports from Britain this week.
Early this year, the United States said it will begin supplying Ukraine with Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs, GPS-guided “smart bombs” with a 150 km range.