The Galactica shopping centre has been burned down in Donetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine that has been occupied by Russian forces since 2014. Before the occupation, it was called Amstol shopping centre, but was renamed after it was taken over by the invading forces.
As reported by Ukrinform, Ukrainian blogger and journalist Denis Kazansky made the announcement on his Telegram channel and published a video from the city.
“Donetsk. The occupied Amstl supermarket, which thieves have renamed Galactica, is on fire,” the journalist wrote in his first post.
A second post added: “The occupied Amstol in Donetsk has been burnt down.”
Donetsk’s Galactica shopping centre is located in the city’s frontline Petrovsky district, News of Donbas reports. Locals say the fire broke out after shelling on Friday afternoon, August 16.
“Russian forces regularly shell residential areas of the Petrovsky district of the occupied Donetsk region, local residents told Donbass News,” the report said.
He added that there was ample evidence that Russian occupying forces were turning Donetsk’s Petrovsky district into a military base.
News reports from Donbass reported that the fire caused deaths and injuries.
Since 2014, Russian invaders have occupied Donetsk and parts of the Donetsk region, creating a terrorist organization there called the “Donetsk People’s Republic”. Since then, the region has been constantly subject to Russian criminal propaganda, which talks about the “liberation” of Donbass from Ukraine.
Photos from social media
