Ukraine shelling of Donetsk kills 8, wounds 15: DPR

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The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Territorial Defense Headquarters reported on Saturday the death of eight people and the injury of 15 after Kiev's forces shelled the city of Donetsk.

"Over the past 24 hours, from 08:00 on July 29 to 08:00 on July 30, eight people were killed and 15 more civilians were wounded as a result of shelling by the AFU [armed formations of Ukraine] on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic," the DPR headquarters said on Telegram.  

In the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian forces shelled the Donetsk People's Republic 75 times, firing 632 shells, 15 of which targeted the city of Donetsk, according to the DNR mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire Regime. 

The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in the Kherson region was also shelled by the Ukrainian forces using the HIMARS missile system, the head of the city's military-civilian administration, Vladimir Leontyev, said on Saturday. However, he added, the strike was repelled and did not affect the HPP's operation.

Lavrov: Operation in Ukraine continues, door to negotiations open

The initiative now lies with Kiev, but so far Ukraine's leadership has made it obvious that it is hesitant to begin the process, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who indicated last Sunday that Moscow was prepared to resume full-scale negotiations with Kiev.

"We do not have any preconceptions about resuming negotiations [with Kiev] on a broader range of issues, but it is not up to us. Because the Ukrainian authorities, starting with the president and ending with his countless advisers, have consistently stated that there will be no negotiations until Ukraine defeats Russia," Lavrov said following talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.