A Russian strike hit the center of Sloviansk in northern Donetsk region, with impacts recorded close to multi-story residential buildings. Local authorities said five people were wounded.

The casualties include boys aged seven and 13, as well as an 18-year-old woman, Radio Svoboda (svoboda.org) reported on Wednesday, October 21.

Sloviansk forms part of a fortified chain of northern Donetsk region cities often described as a “fortress belt.” The line is important to Ukrainian defenses, while Russian troops are seeking approaches to its cities from several directions.

The attack came amid intensified bombardment of Sloviansk and other communities in the belt. At least four people were killed in strikes on nearby Kramatorsk on October 20.