MOSCOW, January 13. /TASS/. The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case over new facts of genocide committed against the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine, an official said.

The committee’s spokesman Vladimir Markin told TASS on Tuesday that a criminal case was opened over facts of mass shelling of the cities of Donetsk, Horlivka, Dokuchaevsk and Olenovka and other residential areas from Grad and Uragan multiple rocket launchers, Akatsia and Gvozdika artillery systems and other heavy guns, with the use of incendiary ammunition, during the period from December 1, 2014 to January 12, 2015.

The shelling killed more than 40 people, seriously injured more than 120 people and destroyed buildings and infrastructure.

Since the beginning of the military operation conducted by Ukrainian forces in south-eastern Ukraine, more than 4,800 people have been killed and more than 10,500 have been wounded. More than 1,000 apartment buildings, houses and infrastructure installations have been completely or partially destroyed or burned.