DONETSK, March 5. /TASS/. A total of 26 civilians died in Donetsk People’s Republic during the 17 days of escalation in the region, Joint Ceasefire Coordination and Control Center announced Saturday.

"Between 17.02.2022 and 05.03.2022, in 17 days of escalation by Ukrainian Armed Forces, 815 facts of firefight were registered," the DPR mission to JCCC said in its Telegram channel. "A total of 26 civilians were killed, 121 civilians - including nine children - sustained various injuries. In the past 24 hours, 10 people were injured."

During these 17 days, a total of 532 residential buildings were damaged in DPR, as well as 210 civilian infrastructure objects, including 11 medical facilities, 18 educational facilities, 11 social security facilities, 13 essential utilities infrastructure objects: power, water and gas supply objects, plus 82 vehicles, the DPR mission reported.

On Wednesday, the DPR mission to the JCCC reported 25 people killed during 14 days of escalation of conflict in Donbass.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine in response to an aid request from the Donbass republics. He underscored that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine; instead, the operation aims to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.