On Thursday night, Russia continued its attacks on Ukrainian cities. Several people were killed in Kharkiv. In Cherson, a pro-Ukrainian demonstration was interrupted by Russian troops.
According to Ukrainian sources, at least three people died and six were injured in shelling in the Kharkiv region. The local administration blamed Russia for the civilian casualties on Thursday night. Regional military chief Oleg Synegubow said two of the six wounded were seriously injured. The Russian military used artillery and mortars. The Ukrainian army is holding the position and inflicting casualties on the “enemy”.
Several Russians were captured, he said. The information could not initially be independently verified. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky paid tribute to the pro-Ukrainian protest rally in conquered Kherson, which, according to the Ukrainian attorney general, was dispersed by Russian forces using tear gas and stun grenades. “I’m grateful to everyone who didn’t give up, who protested, who ignored the occupiers and who showed the few people who became collaborators that there was no future for them,” Zelensky said.
Shortly after his speech, the RIA news agency, citing security sources, reported that Ukraine fired three rockets into the southern part of the city on Wednesday night, two of which were shot down by Russian occupying forces. A local RIA correspondent had previously reported a series of loud explosions near the television center.
Attacks on Sumy and Mykolayiv
In the Sumy region, the local administration reported more than 50 mortar shells. According to a spokesman for the authorities, nothing is known about the victims. Attacks were also reported in Mykolaiv. Air defenses shot down a Russian spy drone over the Black Sea near Odessa, the Ukrainian army said.
Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov said Ukraine faces “extremely difficult weeks”. Russia has gathered troops for a “large-scale offensive in eastern Ukraine” and “will try to inflict as much suffering as possible,” Resnikov posted on Facebook.
More than two months after the start of the aggressive war, the Russian army has recently stepped up its attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine. Kiev acknowledged that Russian forces had advanced eastward and captured several villages in Donbass.
Russian helicopters are for Afghanistan
Meanwhile, Russia protested against the delivery of Russian helicopters to Ukraine. The 2011 contract stipulates that the helicopters are destined for Afghanistan and can only be transferred to other countries with Russian consent, the Russian official responsible for military-technical cooperation, FSWTS, told Interfax. A delivery to Ukraine is illegal and a gross breach of contract.
Before the start of the Russian war of aggression in late February, the US had already given Ukraine five of the Mi-17 helicopters originally destined for Afghanistan. In mid-April, Washington finally announced that it would send eleven more helicopters to Kiev. The US initially bought the Russian-built machines for the Afghan military, but the Taliban took over and did not hand them over.
Poland demands help for EU refugees
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is pushing the EU for help to take in refugees. His country takes care of wounded Ukrainian soldiers and welcomes “2.5 million refugees, to whom we Poles open our doors and our hearts. We need money for that,” Morawiecki told the Bild newspaper. But the EU “has not paid a cent” so far to care for the refugees. Poland wants fair treatment: “Turkey received billions in support of the latest wave of refugees. I think we also deserve the EU’s help now.”
(APA/DPA)