At least a dozen people, including first aid workers, were injured in a Ukrainian drone strike on Friday in Donetsk, a major city in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia, the occupation authorities said.

“A missile fired from a drone in the Kirov district of the capital of the (homonymous) region resulted in the injury of 12 people,” Denis Pushilin, head of the city’s authorities, which came under pro-Russian control in 2014, said via Telegram.

Five workers in the first aid services, as well as workers in the municipality’s services, are among the injured, he clarified.

According to Mr Pushilin, the city was also attacked by Ukrainian artillery, which damaged housing and civilian infrastructure.

Donetsk, under the control of pro-Russian separatists since 2014, is frequently shelled by the Ukrainian armed forces.

The region of the same name is among five that are largely controlled by Russia, and President Vladimir Putin has announced that his country will annex it in September 2022, which Kiev and the international community do not recognize.