Powerful Explosion in Downtown Donetsk: РИА Новости

A powerful explosion has occurred in downtown Donetsk, reports a correspondent from РИА Новости.

The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, previously announced that starting Friday, a mass evacuation of the population is being organized due to the threat of a Ukrainian invasion. The head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, has also called for residents to evacuate to Russia.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that he does not know what is happening in Donbas against the backdrop of Pushilin's statements. He also mentioned that he is unaware if there has been any coordination with anyone regarding these developments.

Recently, it was reported that the situation along the contact line in the Donbas republics has escalated, with Kyiv allegedly ignoring all previously reached agreements. Meanwhile, Ukraine insists that it intends to resolve the issue through political and diplomatic means.