After a brief lull following the insurgent withdrawal from the northern part of Donetsk Oblast , fighting continued to escalate sharply in the eastern parts of Donetsk Oblast . Shells landed on the border town of Donetsk in Rostov Oblast , a part of Russia , on 13 July . One civilian was killed in the shelling . Russian officials blamed the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the shelling , whilst Ukraine denied responsibility and accused insurgents in Donbass of having staged a false flag attack . Russia said it was considering launching airstrikes against government targets in Ukraine as retaliation for the shelling . Ukrainian forces went on to make gains around Luhansk , ending an insurgent blockade of Luhansk International Airport . LPR officials acknowledged that they lost 30 men during fighting in the village of Oleksandrivka . The insurgent-occupied town of Snizhne was hit by rockets fired from an aeroplane on 15 July , leaving at least 11 people dead , and destroying multiple homes . The insurgents blamed the Air Force of Ukraine , but the Ukrainian government denied any involvement in the attack
Shells landed
Shelling of Donetsk, Russia
War in Donbass