Ukraine-Russia war live: Children among 19 killed in attack by Putin’s forces on Zelensky’s home city

Ukraine’s armed forces proceed to manage a large chunk of the Kursk area in Russia, regardless of the Kremlin’s efforts to push them out, mentioned a prime US basic.

US Military basic Christopher Cavoli, commander of america European Command, mentioned that Ukrainian forces had additionally entered the close by Belgorod area, increasing their presence on Russian territory.

He mentioned throughout a congressional listening to on Thursday: “There’s a sizable power holding a large — diminished, however sizable — chunk of floor inside Russia’s Kursk Oblast proper now. And so they’re holding on excellent defensive terrain south of there in Belgorod.”

“The Ukrainians, a few weeks in the past, pushed a smaller counteroffensive again into Russia [in Belgorod]. So, we nonetheless have a backwards and forwards going up in that space.”

Ukraine’s air power has mentioned that they shot down 51 out of 91 drones launched by Russia in a single day within the north, south, east and centre of the nation.

They added that 31 enemy drone simulators have been misplaced in location with out destructive penalties, that means they used digital warfare to intercept or block them

The nation’s capital, in addition to its Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Zhytomyr areas suffered on account of the assault.

They suggested residents in Sumy to remain in shelters as extra drones have been heading in direction of town and its environment.

Russia’s prime negotiator Kirill Dmitriev has been visiting not solely the US however a number of different international locations in Moscow’s push to unlock frozen Russian property, Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned.

“He (Dmitriev) was not solely within the US – we’re monitoring the actions of our adversaries,” Mr Zelensky mentioned through the briefing.

The Ukrainian president mentioned Moscow is pressuring overseas governments to assist launch the funds by providing offers involving high-tech items reminiscent of plane development.

Russia is actively making an attempt to have sanctions lifted, however as of now each Europe and the US stay agency of their stance of constant to impose them, Mr Zelensky mentioned.

Mr Dmitriev, Mr Putin’s funding envoy, mentioned on Thursday that he noticed a “optimistic dynamic” in relations between Moscow and Washington after holding two days of conferences in Washington, however mentioned extra conferences have been wanted to type out variations.

European navy planners might be prepared inside a month with particulars of a overseas troop contingent in Ukraine seen as crucial to ending the conflict with Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky has mentioned.

Chatting with reporters in Kyiv after assembly British and French navy chiefs, Mr Zelensky mentioned many different international locations would additionally contribute to the trouble, which envisages overseas troops patrolling Ukrainian land, sea and airspace.

“I believe the groups want a few month, now not, and we might be absolutely prepared with an understanding of this infrastructure,” he mentioned.

Mr Zelensky added that navy working teams would meet weekly till then to finalise the small print. He didn’t specify which different nations would contribute.

Kyiv is searching for safety ensures from its allies within the occasion of a peace settlement with Moscow to stop a repeat of its February 2022 full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian military leaders together with Kyiv’s prime basic and the chief of its basic workers additionally met the visiting European navy officers yesterday.

Ukraine’s navy mentioned early right this moment that Russia was “once more spreading false data” by saying it had focused a gathering of servicemen in a missile strike on the central Ukrainian metropolis of Kryvyi Rih.

“The missile struck a residential space with a playground,” the navy’s Basic Employees mentioned in a press release on Telegram.

“Via this newest violation of the norms of worldwide human rights, the insidious enemy reveals that it’s under no circumstances searching for peace however reasonably intends to proceed its invasion and conflict to destroy Ukraine and all Ukrainians.”

Native officers say the strike killed a minimum of 18 individuals, together with 9 kids.

There have to be crimson traces when it comes to a timetable relating to a Ukraine ceasefire, Estonian overseas minister Margus Tsahkna mentioned yesterday.

“(Russian president Vladimir Putin) is asking extra and he isn’t asking solely extra about Ukraine. He is simply placing new situations on the desk (…) there have to be some type of crimson traces on the timetable”, he mentioned as he arrived in Brussels to fulfill his Nato counterparts.

The UK and French overseas ministers have accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of dragging his toes in ceasefire talks geared toward halting Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine and demanded a swift response from Russia after weeks of US efforts to safe a truce.

“Our judgment is that Putin continues to obfuscate, continues to tug his toes,” overseas secretary David Lammy informed reporters at Nato headquarters, standing alongside French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in a symbolic present of unity.

“We see you, Vladimir Putin. We all know what you might be doing,” Mr Lammy mentioned.

Mr Barrot mentioned that Ukraine had accepted ceasefire phrases three weeks in the past, and that Russia now “owes a solution to america.”

“Russia has been flip-flopping, persevering with its strikes on vitality infrastructure, persevering with its conflict crimes,” Mr Barrot mentioned. “It must be ‘sure.’ It must be ‘no.’ It must be a fast reply.”

The loss of life toll in Russian assault on Ukrainian metropolis of Kryvyi Rih rose to 19 final night time, together with 9 kids, native officers mentioned.

Photographs posted on-line confirmed our bodies of the useless, together with aged, and wounded mendacity on the pavement as gray smoke rose into the sky.

Rescue employees toiled by means of the night time with flashlights in Kryvyi Rih, shifting round wrecked automobiles, buildings with shattered home windows and a gaping crater. Residents carried armloads of foil and timber for emergency residence repairs, in keeping with a Reuters eyewitness.

At the very least 50 individuals have been wounded, the emergency providers mentioned, including that the determine was rising. Greater than 30 individuals, together with a three-month-old child, have been in hospital, mentioned regional governor Serhiy Lysak.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed it focused a navy gathering there however didn’t clarify the loss of life of youngsters and an toddler.

“There have been useless kids mendacity there, crying mother and father, it was horrible,” Yulia, 47, informed Reuters as she surveyed the broken blinds, fixtures and furnishings in her residence.