Images and video taken from the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on Monday morning reveal many injuries from what appears to be a missile strike on the city, CNN reported.

Donetsk is seized by separatist forces backed by Russia and serves as the capital of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).

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CNN’s geolocated cameras reveal at least many fatalities and a considerable number of injuries on a prominent thoroughfare in the city centre.

The missile’s remnants can be observed at the scene. It’s unclear where it originated from or who fired it.

Denis Pushilin, the DPR’s leader, told Russian television, “At the moment, we can talk about the largest number of civilian casualties as a result of a single strike.”

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“Around 20 people (died), but the number is being updated” he told Russia 24, calling it a “war crime.”

According to a local news agency the Headquarters of the Territorial Defense of the DPR was giving the same figure.

The DPR People’s Militia accused Ukraine of launching the missile, saying, “The Ukrainian armed formations once again used the tactical missile system ‘Tochka-U’ in the residential areas of Donetsk, in order to (cause) genocide (to) civilians and destroy important civilian infrastructure in the capital of the Republic.”

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The Tochka missile is employed by Ukrainian forces, but it has also been utilised by Russian and rebel forces in the past. 

Separately, Pushilin told Russia’s national television network Russia-1, “We managed to shoot down the tactical missile system Tochka-U , but even the wreckage did so much damage.”

“The worst is the loss of civilian lives. People were standing in line for the ATM, at the bus stop,” he added.

Separately, the DPR’s health ministry stated that 23 people had been hurt and were being treated in hospitals.