At least 28 people killed after shelling of bakery in self-proclaimed ‘Luhansk People’s Republic,’ say occupation authorities

Update: On February 4, Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry reported that the attack’s death toll had risen to 28 people, including a child.

Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-backed head of the self-proclaimed “Luhansk People’s Republic” (LNR), reported that a building housing a bakery in the city of Lysychansk came under shelling. According to emergency services, eight people were killed and 10 others were injured. Another 10 people were found under the rubble.

“Three people were hospitalized. Several dozen civilians may be under the rubble. Emergency services and military authorities are working at the scene,” said Pasechnik.

The head of the self-proclaimed republic said Ukraine’s Armed Forces were responsible for the attack. The Ukrainian authorities have not commented on this statement.

Earlier, Russian state news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS, citing the “LNR” military authorities, reported that two people were killed and six were hospitalized. “It’s always crowded there on the weekends. Three people have now been taken out from under the rubble, and up to 40 others may be under the debris,” said the representative for the military authorities.