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Rocket Attacks on School and Bus in Ukraine Kill 9 Despite Truce, Deadly Attacks Persist in Ukraine
(about 3 hours later)
DONETSK, Ukraine — Rocket fire slammed into an elementary school and a city bus here on Wednesday morning, killing nine people, while fighting continued to rage at the Donetsk airport. DONETSK, Ukraine — Rocket fire slammed into an elementary school and a city bus here on Wednesday morning, killing nine people, while fighting continued to rage at the Donetsk airport.
Although both the Ukrainian government and the separatist rebels who hold Donetsk formally declared a cease-fire on Sep. 5, the increasing tally of the dead and wounded in recent days has shown the agreement to be largely a fiction.Although both the Ukrainian government and the separatist rebels who hold Donetsk formally declared a cease-fire on Sep. 5, the increasing tally of the dead and wounded in recent days has shown the agreement to be largely a fiction.
Several witnesses said that a biology teacher, a parent, and a rebel fighter of the Donetsk People’s Republic were killed in one rocket attack, which took place at Elementary School 57 on the first day of school. Several witnesses said that a biology teacher, a parent and a rebel fighter of the Donetsk People’s Republic were killed in one rocket attack, at Elementary School 57.
Zoya Nikolayevna, the school’s receptionist, said that all of the students were in class when she heard two “loud claps” and the windows of the building blew in. Zoya Nikolayevna, the school’s receptionist, said that all of the students were in class when she heard two “loud claps,” and the windows of the building blew in.
None of the students were killed, she said.None of the students were killed, she said.
“I was late ringing the bell” to end the first day of classes, which ended early, she said. “I can’t imagine what would have happened if I had been on time. They could have been killed.”“I was late ringing the bell” to end the first day of classes, which ended early, she said. “I can’t imagine what would have happened if I had been on time. They could have been killed.”
Down the street, a rocket that appeared to have been launched in the same volley struck a public bus, killing six and leaving the carcass of the bus burning in the street for hours. Down the street, a rocket that appeared to have been launched in the same volley struck a public bus, killing six and leaving the hollowed-out shell of the bus burning in the street for hours.
The Ukrainian Army and the separatists blamed each other for the attack. The city remains under rebel control and the attack came from the direction of the airport, which is held by the Ukrainian Army. Near the school, there were large fragments of metal consistent with Grad rockets, which are fired somewhat indiscriminately from truck-mounted, multiple-rocket launchers and are used by both sides in the conflict. The Ukrainian Army and the separatists blamed each other for the attack. The city remains under rebel control and the attack came from the direction of the airport, which is held by the army. Near the school, there were large fragments of metal consistent with Grad rockets, which are fired somewhat indiscriminately from truck-mounted, multiple-rocket launchers and are used by both sides in the conflict.
Mikhail S. Zoloto, the deputy director of the Donetsk morgue, said in an interview earlier this week that more than 1,400 bodies had passed through the morgue since March 15, when the fighting began. It is not uncommon for the morgue to take in dozens of bodies a day, he said, especially on Mondays when he and his colleagues return to work after the weekend. Mikhail S. Zoloto, the deputy director of the Donetsk morgue, said in an interview this week that more than 1,400 bodies had passed through the morgue since March 15, when the fighting began. It is not uncommon for the morgue to take in dozens of bodies a day, he said, especially on Mondays when he and his colleagues return to work after the weekend.
In total, the war has left more than 3,500 people dead.In total, the war has left more than 3,500 people dead.
Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov of Russia on Wednesday accused the West and Western news outlets of trying to “hush up” war crimes he said had been carried out by Ukrainian military and paramilitary forces. Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov of Russia on Wednesday accused the West and Western news outlets of trying to “hush up” war crimes that he said had been carried out by Ukrainian military and paramilitary forces.
Chief among them was a claim that rebels had found more than 400 bodies in mass graves in a city near Donetsk held for some time by army forces.Chief among them was a claim that rebels had found more than 400 bodies in mass graves in a city near Donetsk held for some time by army forces.
However, a senior rebel leader told the Interfax news agency that only nine bodies had been found in the graves, contradicting Mr. Lavrov’s statement. However, a senior rebel leader told the Interfax news agency that only nine bodies had been found in the graves.
“We were misunderstood,” said Andrey Purgin, the deputy prime minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic. “We meant that 400 was the general number of unidentified bodies that remain in morgues in Donetsk.” “We were misunderstood,” said Andrei Purgin, the deputy prime minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic. “We meant that 400 was the general number of unidentified bodies that remain in morgues in Donetsk.”
In the neighboring Zaporizhzhya region, Ukrainian officials buried 54 unidentified government fighters at a public ceremony, where many supporters and mourners expressed anger both at the rebel republics and at the Kiev government for what they called mismanagement of the war effort.In the neighboring Zaporizhzhya region, Ukrainian officials buried 54 unidentified government fighters at a public ceremony, where many supporters and mourners expressed anger both at the rebel republics and at the Kiev government for what they called mismanagement of the war effort.
“We need another change in government,” said Vasily Parashin, a volunteer fighter for the Zaporizhzhya National Guard, a pro-Ukrainian volunteer unit, as he shoveled dirt into one of the graves.“We need another change in government,” said Vasily Parashin, a volunteer fighter for the Zaporizhzhya National Guard, a pro-Ukrainian volunteer unit, as he shoveled dirt into one of the graves.
Mr. Parashin, 52, a former factory worker, said that he was ready to fight, but would prefer to remain in his native Zaporizhzhya to defend it from a possible invasion. Mr. Parashin, 52, a former factory worker, said that he was ready to fight but would prefer to remain in his native Zaporizhzhya to defend it from a possible invasion.
“I am not opposed to going to Kiev when this is all over,” he said. “We need new people there, generals and officers, not the politicians playing their political game.”“I am not opposed to going to Kiev when this is all over,” he said. “We need new people there, generals and officers, not the politicians playing their political game.”
The 54 men were killed during a battle in the city of Ilovaysk, seen as a turning point in the overall conflict, where several pro-Ukrainian paramilitary battalions suffered a ruinous defeat at the hands of Russian and rebel artillery. Many of those present said they believed the government had intentionally underestimated the number of government soldiers killed in the fighting.The 54 men were killed during a battle in the city of Ilovaysk, seen as a turning point in the overall conflict, where several pro-Ukrainian paramilitary battalions suffered a ruinous defeat at the hands of Russian and rebel artillery. Many of those present said they believed the government had intentionally underestimated the number of government soldiers killed in the fighting.
Angel, a soldier from the Donbass battalion who did not want to give his full name for fear of reprisals, said that 40 of the soldiers from his battalion who were killed in an attack on their troop transport had been classified as missing, and that “the real number of dead are far higher than what you see in the press.”Angel, a soldier from the Donbass battalion who did not want to give his full name for fear of reprisals, said that 40 of the soldiers from his battalion who were killed in an attack on their troop transport had been classified as missing, and that “the real number of dead are far higher than what you see in the press.”