The UK Ministry of Defense said Thursday that “significant Russian shelling and missile attacks continued despite Russian statements indicating an intended reduction in military activity around Chernihiv.
“Russian forces continue to hold positions east and west of Kyiv despite the withdrawal of a limited number of units,” she added in a tweet. “There will likely be heavy fighting in the outskirts of the city in the coming days.”
Russia is ordering 134,500 new conscripts into the army, claiming it has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine
According to Reuters, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday that would enlist 134,500 new conscripts into the Russian army as part of an annual spring call-up.
But Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier this week that the new recruits would not be sent to “hot spots,” he added.
A US Army veteran returns to Ukraine to provide aid
Army veteran Anthony Pate shares experiences from his recent trip to Ukraine.
Ukrainian-Russian talks are set to continue via video on Friday, with Turkey hoping for another face-to-face meeting
Talks to end the war are set to continue via video on Friday, says Ukrainian delegation head David Arakhamia.
During face-to-face talks in Istanbul on Tuesday, Ukraine laid out a detailed framework for a peace deal under which the country would remain neutral but its security would be guaranteed by a group of third countries including the US, Britain, France, Turkey and China Poland.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s top diplomat Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday that Turkey hopes to arrange another meeting between Ukraine and Russia within the next two weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ukraine claims Russia lost about 17,500 people and more than 6,000 tanks
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine claimed that Russia lost about 17,500 people, 6,614 tanks, 1,735 armored vehicles, 311 artillery systems, 54 anti-aircraft systems, 135 aircraft, 131 helicopters, 1,201 vehicles, 7 ships and more.
Ukraine says 380 children have been killed or injured in the war
Prosecutor General of Ukraine claims that 148 children were killed and another 232 injured during the Russian invasion. She further said that 797 educational institutions were damaged, of which 76 were completely destroyed.
The United Nations Children’s Fund said on Wednesday that two million children have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24.
“The situation in Ukraine is coming to a head,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. “As the number of children fleeing their homes continues to rise, we must remember that each and every one of them needs protection, education, safety and support.”
UNICEF also estimates that more than 2.5 million children have been internally displaced within Ukraine. Overall, the United Nations estimates that more than 4 million people fled Ukraine during the conflict.
Ukraine retakes three settlements from Russia
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that Ukrainian forces recaptured three settlements on Wednesday: Orlove, Zagradivka and Kochubeyevka.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces also claimed that the Russian Armed Forces lost several senior military officers, including: commander of the 1st Panzer Army, Lieutenant General Serhiy Kisel, removed from office; Commander of the 6th General Army Lieutenant General Vladislav Yershov, impeached and arrested; Chief of Staff – Deputy Commander of the 35th All-Military Army Major General Sergei Nirkov was seriously wounded; Chief of Staff – Deputy Commander of the 36th General Army, Major General Andrei Seritsky was seriously wounded; Deputy Commander of the 41st All-Military Army, Lt. Gen. Andriy Sukhovetsky died; Commander of the 49th General Army, Lieutenant General Yakov Ryazantsev, died; The commander of the 58th All-Military Army, Lt. Gen. Mykhailo Zusk, was removed from his post and arrested.
The United Nations appoints an expert panel to investigate war crimes in Russia
The United Nations on Wednesday appointed three human rights experts to investigate possible war crimes in Ukraine, where Russia is accused of indiscriminately bombing civilians, Reuters reported.
The independent panel, headed by Erik Mose of Norway, will investigate all allegations of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law “related to the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine,” it said in a statement.
China says it seeks closer ties with Russia
China is seeking closer ties with Russia, even as the US and other NATO countries have urged China to put more pressure on Moscow amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
China and Russia are “more determined” to deepen ties, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
“Both sides are more determined to build bilateral ties and more confident in promoting cooperation in various fields,” Wang said.
“China stands ready to work with Russia to elevate Sino-Russian relations to a higher level in a new era led by the consensus reached by world leaders,” he added.
Both sides have also condemned what they described as illegal counterproductive sanctions against Russia, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Click here for Wednesday’s live coverage.