Alexei Kulemzin blamed "punitive" Ukrainian shellfire for the deaths. There is no comment from Ukrainian officials, reports BBC.

Since 2014, Donetsk has been controlled by Russia's proxy authorities.

The authorities have continuously  accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the city.

Independent confirmation is hard to come by on the ground in areas of the east held by. However, local authorities said nine 150mm shells were fired at the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk, from a village to the west of the city, reports BBC.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February.