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Russia-Ukraine Live News: Ukraine’s Luhansk governor says counterattack has resulted in 50 percent of Severodonetsk city back under Ukrainian control.
- Serhiy Gaidai, governor of Luhansk province, says Ukrainian forces, which previously controlled only 30 percent of the city, launched a counterattack and recaptured another 20 percent.
- Military experts say the outcome of the Battle of Severodonetsk could determine which side has the momentum for a prolonged war of attrition.
- Ukraine’s defense minister says it’s impossible to predict the outcome of the war, but “my optimistic forecast is that it’s realistic to achieve it as early as this year.”
- Russia’s RIA news agency quotes Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying that Moscow has easily dealt with US weapons systems sent to Ukraine and has already destroyed dozens.
- Moscow says Western arms will add “fuel to the fire” but won’t change the course of what it calls a “special military operation.”
(Al Jazeera)
49 seconds ago (22:55 GMT)
More than two children killed, four injured every day in Ukraine: UN
UNICEF representative in Ukraine Murat Sahin said that on average more than two children are killed and more than four injured every day because of the war.
Most are victims of explosive weapon attacks in populated areas.
The numbers represent only the incidents the UN has been able to verify, and Sahin said he believes the true numbers are much higher.
On average, more than two children are killed and more than four injured every day in Ukraine
I want to offer my deepest condolences to any family who lost a child to this terrible war.https://t.co/O11BIPEWWQ pic.twitter.com/2VsRyzf8yJ— UNICEF Ukraine (@UNICEF_UA) June 4, 2022
14 minutes ago (22:42 GMT)
Ukraine plans to resume competitive football in August
Despite being at war with Russia, Ukraine plans to resume competitive football matches by the summer.
Andriy Pavelko, the President of the Football Union of Ukraine, revealed to The Associated Press details of his talks with President Zelenskyy and the heads of FIFA and UEFA to find a safe way to resume matches on home soil.
“I spoke to our President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the importance of football as a distraction,” Pavelko said in an interview.
“We talked about football having a very great power to help people think about the future because of course people are not in a good frame of mind now. You are in the worst mood.”
“So we made the decision with the president that we will resume the Ukrainian championship in August,” Pavelko said through a translator.
34 minutes ago (22:22 GMT)
Zelenskyy accuses Russia of shelling an Orthodox Christian monastery
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the main church of one of Ukraine’s holiest Orthodox Christian sites burned down after Russian shelling.
News of the destruction of part of the monastery came as Russian forces escalated their attacks in the Donetsk region.
“They are ready to burn down everything: Orthodox churches as well as everything else in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address.
He claimed that 113 Orthodox churches had already been destroyed or damaged by Russia since the invasion began in February.
Russian and Ukrainian military officials have blamed each other for the damage at the Svyatohirsk monastery.
45 minutes ago (22:11 GMT)
Pope says he will meet Ukrainian officials to discuss possible trip
Pope Francis said he will soon be meeting with Ukrainian officials to discuss the possibility of visiting their country.
“It’s not easy to make a decision that could do more harm than good to the rest of the world. I have to find the right moment for it,” he said.
Welcome to Al Jazeera’s ongoing coverage of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Read all updates from Saturday 4 June here.