DONETSK, March 6. /TASS/. Almost 4,500 civilians have been killed in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) as a result of shelling by Ukrainian troops since the situation in Donbass escalated on February 17, 2022, the DPR mission to the Joint Control and Coordination Center for issues related to Ukraine’s war crimes reported on Monday.

"During the 382 days of escalation, 674 civilians, including 27 children, were killed in the territory within the borders existing before the start of the special military operation. In the territory liberated during the special military operation, 3,779 civilians were killed, including 106 children. A total of 4,453 people were killed, including 133 children," the mission wrote on its Telegram channel.

The situation on the line of engagement in Donbass escalated on the morning of February 17. Intensive shelling by Ukrainian forces killed civilians and damaged civilian infrastructure. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics. Treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance were signed with their leaders. On February 24, Putin, in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics, made a decision to conduct a special military operation in Ukraine. The DPR and LPR started an operation to liberate their territory that was under Kiev’s control.