Five civilians, including children, injured in Russian attack on Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast
Russian forces have targeted the civilian infrastructure of the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast on 30 January.
Source: Oleksandr Honcharenko, Head of Kramatorsk City Military Administration, on Facebook
Details: Early reports indicate that at least five people have been injured. Among them are an eight-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl.
Local authorities are gathering information about the aftermath of the bombardment.
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A Russian news outlet published a story in 2023 that claimed Chernikov supported and participated in Putin's 2000 presidential election campaign, "for which he even received gratitude from the president" — echoing the Telegraph's claim that he "received a letter of thanks from Putin for his help in the election campaign which first brought the Russian leader to power." The Telegraph article detailed Chernikov's foray into politics as follows: The same year [2000], Mr Chernikov took his first step into politics, taking a role in the ministry of natural resources, before becoming deputy governor of the Nenets region in Siberia. From 2008 to 2010, he was a member of Russia's civic chamber, which was founded following a proposal by Putin and is notionally meant to scrutinise the activities of the Russian government. When the chamber was set up, critics claimed that it would be staffed by Kremlin allies and used to diminish a rival power base in the Russian State Duma. 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However, it was clear that by 2020, Putin publicly intervened in the Bashkir Soda Co., after protests erupted over the company's plans to continue mining limestone from a mountain sacred to local residents for the production of baking soda. A Russian court also determined the 2013 privatization of the company "was carried out with violations," and the vast majority of the company subsequently transferred to federal ownership. Putin then reportedly ordered the return of a portion of the shares to the trust management of the locale's authorities. It's unclear whether Russia officially forced Chernikov into exile and where exactly he lives, but according to the Russian news outlet, his social network profile lists Geneva, Switzerland, as his city of residence. Beattie — a historically vocal supporter of Putin — continues to hold his position in the U.S. State Department, and according to an investigation by The Telegraph, he married the niece of a Russian businessman — Chernikov — with reported links to Putin. A Russian news outlet previously reported several claims about Chernikov, including that he received a personal thank you from Putin for his support in the 2000 election and held some government roles years before The Telegraph's investigation made similar assertions. Reports indicate Putin intervened with Chernikov's chemical company, and Chernikov may be exiled from Russia, as of this writing. However, Snopes has not reviewed primary evidence related to these claims, and therefore cannot substantiate the claims in their entirety. 'Владимир Путин передал половину акций БСК Башкирии'. УФА1.ру, 8 June 2021, 'Следы ведут в Башкирию: разгадываем тайну самого дорогого памятника на Ваганьковском кладбище'. УФА1.ру, 10 May 2023, 'Darren Beattie'. United States Department of State, Accessed 10 June 2025. Kaczynski, Andrew. 'Speechwriter Who Attended Conference with White Nationalists in 2016 Leaves White House | CNN Politics'. CNN, 19 Aug. 2018, 'Как Башкирия отстояла Куштау (и потеряла БСК): хроника громких протестов в защиту шихана'. УФА1.ру, 15 Aug. 2021, Kelly, Caroline. 'Gaetz Hires Ex-WH Staffer Who Attended Conference with White Nationalists | CNN Politics'. CNN, 19 Apr. 2019, 'Long Live Kushtau Mountain and Its Defenders'. Greenpeace International, 4 June 2025, 'Protecting and Championing Free Speech at the State Department'. United States Department of State, Accessed 10 June 2025. Smith, Benedict. 'Trump Official Who Shut down Counter-Russia Agency Has Links to Kremlin'. The Telegraph, Steck, Andrew Kaczynski, Jennifer Hansler, Em. 'Trump Appoints Speechwriter Fired for Attending Conference with White Nationalists to Top State Department Role | CNN Politics'. CNN, 3 Feb. 2025, Taylor, Adam. 'Rubio Shuts State Dept. Foreign Disinformation Office, Citing Censorship'. The Washington Post, Washington, George Grylls. Russian Wife of US Official Denies 'Malicious Claims' of Kremlin Links. 3 June 2025, 'You Searched for Beattie - Page 3 of 81'. Revolver News, Accessed 10 June 2025. - YouTube. Accessed 10 June 2025. 'Путин передал акции "Башкирской содовой компании" фирме бывшего бизнес-партнера Ротенбергов'. УФА1.ру, 13 Apr. 2023,
