Investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine have launched a pre-trial investigation into the shelling of the villages Stanytsia Luhanska and Vrubivka using weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements.

It has been established that on February 17, at about 9 a.m., Russian mercenaries shelled Stanytsia Luhanska with large-caliber artillery and mortars hitting military equipment and civilian infrastructure.

One of the shells blew a hole through the wall of a kindergarten. Children were not injured as classes had begun and they were in another room at the time of the strike. However, three employees of the preschool were shell-shocked and were taken to hospital.

The shelling lasted about 40 minutes. The fire was targeted and was aimed to cause casualties. According to preliminary data, the enemy used 120mm and 152 mm ammunition.

An hour and a half later, the enemy launched an artillery strike at the village of Vrubivka, Severodonetsk district.

The shelling damaged the building of a local school, where 30 students and 14 staff were present at the time of the attack. Children and adults were forced to hide in the school’s basement.

The shells hit the gas pipeline leaving 70 apartments and 96 private houses without gas supply. The strike also damaged a private house in the village.

The SSU operational and investigative teams are working at the scene interviewing witnesses and victims, documenting the circumstances of the crimes.

Under the supervision of Luhansk Region Prosecutor’s Office, the SSU is carrying out urgent investigative actions within the criminal proceedings under Article 258.2 (terrorist act that caused grave consequences) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.