Shortly before a scheduled meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Ukraine, further fighting in the country was reported. The second largest city in the northeast, Kharkiv, has been shelled multiple times since Wednesday night (see video above). At least 11 civilians were killed in the massive Russian rocket attacks, the military governor said.
Another 35 people were injured, Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram. According to the civil defense, there were two children among them. In both cases, residential areas were affected. It was “a cynical attack on civilians for which there is no justification and which demonstrates the powerlessness of the attacker,” Zelenskyj wrote on social media after Wednesday’s shelling.
According to the Ukrainian authorities, there were also attacks in the city of Krasnohrad, about 80 kilometers to the southwest. Two people were killed and two others injured. At least three civilians have been killed and another six injured in towns in the neighboring Donetsk region, which are under Ukrainian control. Pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk region also report deaths and injuries from rocket attacks almost daily.
Strategic stalemate
Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers in the south managed to prevent an advance of Russian troops northeast of Kherson, a Ukrainian military expert said. Selenskyj’s adviser Oleksiy Arestovych explained in a video message that there is currently a strategic stalemate. Over the past month, Russian troops have made “minimal progress” and in some cases Ukrainian troops have gained ground.
Aircraft moved after explosions
Several explosions at Russian military facilities in Crimea, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is stationed, have recently caused a stir. Several Russian fighter jets were destroyed. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russia has therefore moved some planes and helicopters to the interior of the peninsula and to airports in Russia. According to Russian media reports, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet was also replaced.
For the explosions in Crimea, Russia blames fire safety violations in one case and saboteurs in the other. Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility for the incidents, but has hinted that it could be behind them.
Three-way meeting in Lemberg
The war has been raging for almost half a year. Thousands of people have been killed and millions have fled. Relations between the West and Russia are in the deepest crisis since the Cold War. The meeting between Selenskyj, Erdogan and UN chief Guterres is eagerly anticipated. During the day they meet in Lemberg, in western Ukraine. The three-way meeting should be about how to resolve the war politically, start negotiations for a ceasefire.
, as well as the resumption of grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, which had been blocked for months. These have only recently started up again after a rare diplomatic breakthrough brokered by the United Nations and Turkey. The situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is also discussed. Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is said to have come under fire on several occasions recently, with Russia and Ukraine blaming each other.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
