Ukraine: Bombing in Donetsk wounds four people Sep. 29 /update 1

Event

At least four people were wounded after an explosive device detonated outside of the Communist Party office in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk on Saturday, September 29. The casualties included the Communist Party candidate for leading the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Igor Khakimzyanov. As of Tuesday, October 2, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context

It is unclear if Khakimzyanov was the target of the bombing and if it was connected to the upcoming elections scheduled for November 11. On August 31, the DPR prime minister, Alexander Zakharchenko, was killed by an explosive device in a café in Donetsk. The separatists remain in control of a large swath of territory in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, which are mainly Russian-speaking regions. Ukraine has designated the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) as a terrorist organization.

Advice

Due to the ongoing conflict, many Western governments advise against travel to the far east of Ukraine, including the cities of Donetsk, Horlivka, Makiyivka, Mariupol, and Luhansk.