Donetsk, Jun 8 - DAN. Level 1 pumping station of the Yuzhno-Donbasskiy water duct is suspending operation because of shelling by Kiev forces, a Voda Donbassa state-owned water supply company representative told Donetsk News Agency on Thursday.

“We’re suspending operation today; people refuse to work due to incessant shelling,” he said. “We have to take away our equipment and mothball the company in order not to risk people’s lives.”

Ukrainian forces shelled the station throughout the night; at least eight hits have been recorded. Damage assessment is underway.

Shutting off this water duct will reduce the feed to Dokuchayevsk, the Voda Donbassa source said. The affected areas include a number of large Kiev-controlled towns in southwestern Donbass, including Mariupol, Volnovakha, Krasnoarmeisk, Selidovo, Dimitrov, Rodinskoye and many other settlements.

On Wednesday evening, Ukrainian armed forces targeted Level 1 pumping station of the Yuzhno-Donbasskiy water duct outside Yasinovataya with 120mm mortars. Shelling of the area resumed by midnight.

The pumping station is located in DPR-controlled territory in vicinity of the “grey zone” in Vasilyevka village area. It was last shelled on 27 February morning. Back then, three rounds hit the facility premises damaging walls of the administrative building.*jk