MOSCOW
Members of a "covert group" operating in eastern Ukraine have reportedly been arrested after at least nine people were killed and dozens wounded when a mortar shell hit a tram station in Donetsk.
The head of the republic self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), Alexander Zakharchenko, said mortar fire from a minibus had struck the station on Thursday morning.
"A covert group was operating, who have been arrested. No more comments," the republic's Defense Minister Vladimir Kononov told the Gazeta.Ru newspaper.
'Common grief'
Ministry of Defense officials blamed the attack on a "Ukrainian subversive group" allegedly operating within the city.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on his personal Twitter account: "The tragedy at the bus stop in Donetsk is our common grief."
"Because of such terrorist attacks, Ukrainian civilians were killed. Russia must stop the terrorists."
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said on its website the attack had taken place 15 kilometers from Ukrainian military positions.
Russian news agency RIA-Novosti quoted a spokesperson for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe calling for an immediate ceasefire and military disengagement after the Donetsk tragedy.
