Russia increases the size of its armed forces on the 183rd day of the Ukraine conflict and a Ukrainian minister says an IAEA team could travel to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the coming days.
The Russian offensive has largely bogged down as Ukrainian forces increasingly target key facilities far behind the front lines, including in Russia-occupied Crimea.
(AFP)
Thursday, August 25, 2022Zelenskyy: Discussed with Biden next steps in the conflict
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had "a great conversation" with US President Joe Biden on Thursday and thanked him for his support in the conflict with Russia.
"We discussed Ukraine's further steps on our path to the victory over the aggressor and (the) importance of holding Russia accountable for war crimes," he tweeted in English.
Had a great conversation with @POTUS. Thanked for the unwavering U.S. support for Ukrainian people – security and financial. We discussed Ukraine’s further steps on our path to the victory over the aggressor and importance of holding Russia accountable for war crimes. pic.twitter.com/4edng8vkvn
US: Any Russian bid to divert Ukraine nuclear energy 'unacceptable'
The United States has condemned any Russian bid to divert energy from Ukraine where authorities said the giant Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was cut off from its national grid.
"The electricity that it produces rightly belongs to Ukraine and any attempt to disconnect the plant from the Ukrainian power grid and redirect to occupied areas is unacceptable," State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters.
Separately, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Russia should agree to a demilitarised zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Regular power line to Zaporizhzhia plant restored, Ukraine tells IAEA
The last regular power line supplying electricity to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine is working again after having been cut earlier on Thursday, the UN nuclear watchdog said, citing Ukraine.
"Ukraine told the IAEA that the ZNPP, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, at least twice lost connection to the power line during the day but that it was currently up again," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement, adding that information on the direct cause of the outage was not immediately available.
The plant, Europe's largest, was seized by Russia in March and remains close to the frontline. It has come under repeated fire in recent weeks, raising fears of a nuclear disaster, with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of shelling it.
Nuclear watchdog could visit Russian-held plant in coming days: Ukraine
The International Atomic Energy Agency could travel to Ukraine's Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for a mission in southern Ukraine in the coming days, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said on Thursday.
"A visit is planned. We are talking about the coming days — definitely no later than the beginning of September," Galushchenko told Reuters news agency in an interview in Kiev.
Galushchenko told Reuters it was vital the IAEA mission was able to see what was happening at the plant.
Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu claims slow pace of Moscow’s military action in Ukraine was to spare civilians. Journalist Dasha Chernyshova has more pic.twitter.com/YRnBSJD8Au
Putin signs decree to increase size of Russian armed forces
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the size of Russia's armed forces from 1.9 million to 2.04 million as its attack against Ukraine enters its seventh month.
The increase includes a 137,000 boost in the number of combat personnel to 1.15 million. It comes into effect on January 1, according to the decree published on the government's legislative portal.
While the decree does not outline the reasons for the increase, it comes as Moscow's troops are focused on capturing territories in eastern Ukraine. It also comes at a time of soaring tensions between Moscow and Western countries that have sanctioned Russia over its operation in Ukraine.
Ukraine nuclear plant disconnected from grid: Operator
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under occupation by Russian troops has been disconnected from the national power supply, the state energy operator has said.
"The actions of the invaders caused a complete disconnection of the (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant) from the power grid — the first in the history of the plant," Energoatom said on Telegram.
Energoatom said fires broke out in the ash pits of a coal power station near the Zaporizhzhia reactor complex — Europe's largest nuclear facility — and interfered with power lines connecting the plant to the grid. "As a result, the station's two working power units were disconnected from the network," it said in a statement.
Death toll in train station attack in Ukraine rises to 25
The death toll from a Russian rocket attack on a train station and the surrounding area on Ukraine's Independence Day climbed to 25, including at least two children, Ukrainian authorities said.
Russia said it targeted a military train and claimed to have killed more than 200 Ukrainian reservists.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Jr9OfSP2Y[/embed]
Russian opposition politician placed under de-facto house arrest
A Russian court has placed opposition politician Yevgeny Roizman under conditions similar to house arrest as he awaits trial on charges of "discrediting" the Russian army.
One of the last opposition figures still in the country and not behind bars, the former mayor of the Urals city of Yekaterinburg was detained for his comments about Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine.
A court in Yekaterinburg on Thursday ruled to place Roizman under "restricted movement" -— conditions similar to house arrest — until September 29, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Roizman, 59, is allowed to leave his place of residence for only one minute a day, he can't attend public events, use the internet, or send and receive letters. He is only allowed to communicate with close family members, his lawyer and investigators.
Poland says grave with WWII soldiers is destroyed by Belarus
Poland's government alleged that authorities in neighbouring Belarus were leveling a memorial site containing the graves of Polish resistance fighters who died battling Soviet soldiers during World War II.
Lukasz Jasina, the spokesperson for Poland's Foreign Ministry, said on Twitter that a cemetery in Surkonty — a village where members of Poland's largest wartime resistance force, the Home Army, fought Soviet army troops on August 21, 1944 — was being “devastated by the services of the Minsk regime.”
Those who think that the human memory of heroes can be eradicated are very mistaken. The regime will pay for these acts of barbarism.Lukasz Jasina, the spokesperson for Poland's Foreign Ministry
Belarus to stage territorial defence drills on Saturday
Belarus will hold military drills for reserves and conscripts in the country's territorial defence units on Saturday, the defence ministry said in a statement.
The exercises will focus on strengthening protections around the capital Minsk, the defence ministry said.
Latvia removes controversial Soviet monument
Latvia dismantled a Soviet-era monument in its capital city Riga following Russia's attacks on Ukraine, despite protests from the Baltic state's ethnic Russian minority to keep it.
Demolition machinery was used to remove the 79-metre World War II memorial, which has become a rallying point for the Kremlin's supporters in Latvia.
Latvia, like fellow Baltic states Estonia and Lithuania, is a NATO and EU member that has shown strong support for Ukraine in the conflict with Russia.
Built in 1985, the Monument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders had featured statues of soldiers and a woman surrounding a central obelisk.
(Reuters)
Russia claims killing Ukraine troops in rail strike
Russia's defence ministry has said that it killed over 200 Ukrainian troops in a railway station attack in central Ukraine that Kiev said left 25 people, including children, dead.
"As a result of a direct hit by an Iskander missile on a military train at the Chaplyne railway station in the Dnipropetrovsk region, more than 200 servicemen of the reserve of Ukraine's Armed Forces and 10 units of military equipment were destroyed," the ministry said in its daily briefing.
It added that the train was "en route to combat zones" in the eastern Donbass region that Moscow seeks to fully control.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha-aQ5TznqU[/embed]
Russia's use of cluster bombs in Ukraine extensive: Monitor
Russia has widely used cluster bombs in Ukraine, causing hundreds of civilian casualties and damaging homes, schools and hospitals, the monitoring body Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) said in an annual report.
"Russia's extensive use of internationally-banned cluster munitions in Ukraine demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life, humanitarian principles and legal norms," said Mary Wareham of the Cluster Munition Monitor 2022.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine have joined the convention prohibiting the use, transfer, production and stockpiling of cluster bombs, which has 110 states parties and 13 other signatories.
Gas, coal prices double in six months
Natural gas and coal prices on global markets have reached record levels six months into the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Natural gas prices in Europe increased by about 127.6 percent in the six months since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The EU's sanctions, the reduction in fossil fuels imported from Russia and reduced gas flow to Europe ramped up prices.
The price of coal hit its highest closing price since the conflict began at $398.45 on March 2. Supply concerns on global markets pushed coal prices higher after Russia, one of the world's largest coal-producing countries, began its offensive.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmw_Xk9rk8o[/embed]
Russian, French defence ministers discuss Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has discussed the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant with his French counterpart by telephone, the ministry said.
Zaporizhzhia, Europe's largest nuclear plant, was captured by Russian troops in March.
It remains close to the frontline, and has come under repeated fire in recent weeks, raising fears of a nuclear disaster. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling the plant.
UN's Bachelet calls on Putin to halt armed attacks on Ukraine
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt armed attacks on Ukraine and said the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant must be demilitarised.
"The international community must insist on documentation" to be able to one day prove war crimes, added Bachelet in a speech marking the end of her term as the United Nations' high commissioner for human rights.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdqaF4JnJsI[/embed]
Ukraine plans international court to put Putin on trial
Ukrainian officials are drawing up plans to make sure Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top military commanders will be tried for launching the military offensive.
The plan for a special international tribunal to investigate Russia's alleged "crime of aggression" is being spearheaded by Andrii Smirnov, deputy head of Ukraine's presidential administration.
The International Criminal Court, which has been trying the gravest crimes for the past 20 years, is already investigating war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Ukraine. But it cannot look into accusations of aggression because neither Ukraine nor Russia has ratified the Rome Statute.
This court is "the only way to make sure that the criminals who started the Ukraine war are held accountable quickly," Smirnov told the AFP news agency. "The world has a short memory. That's why I would like this tribunal to start working next year."
For live updates from Wednesday (August 24), click here
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
ANKARA
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the opposing sides involved in the conflict in Ethiopia late Wednesday to work towards a permanent cease-fire amid renewed clashes in the East African country.
"Five months ago, a truce was declared in northern Ethiopia, which reduced violence and saved lives. We are concerned that renewed fighting puts that at risk. We call on the Ethiopian Government and TPLF to redouble efforts for peace to bring a permanent end to the conflict," Blinken said on Twitter, referring to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the party that controls Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.
Earlier in the day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" over the resumption of hostilities in Ethiopia.
His remarks came hours after both the Ethiopian government and Tigray rebels confirmed that a humanitarian truce had been broken following a military escalation.
The Ethiopian army and the forces of the TPLF traded blame as to which side violated the cease-fire that was reached in March in areas along the administrative border between Amhara and Tigray states.
The government has expressed readiness to engage in talks with the rebels in the past several months without any preconditions as long as they are held under the sole mediation of the African Union.
But the Tigray rebels rejected the African Union as a mediator, recommending that talks be held with Kenya’s outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta in that role.
Thousands of people, most of them civilians, have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict began in November 2020.
The UN has warned that Tigray “stands on the edge of a humanitarian disaster,” with more than 40% of the region’s estimated 6 million people in need of emergency assistance.
It also said that more than 5 million people were internally displaced in Afar and Amhara regional states where Tigrayan forces made military incursions a year ago, inflicting huge humanitarian and property damage.
*Addis Getachew in Ethiopia contributed to this story
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
Princess Diana would have handled the conflict between William and Harry
Princess Diana would have assisted her sons Prince William and Prince Harry in resolving their problems.
Ken considered how the mother-of-two would have handled her sons’ differences.
Ken has collaborated with author Ros Coward.
According to her former bodyguard Ken Wharfe, Princess Diana would have assisted her sons Prince William and Prince Harry in resolving their problems.
Writing exclusively for the magazine, Ken considered how the mother-of-two would have handled her sons’ differences. Ken has collaborated with author Ros Coward to write Diana: Remembering the Princess ahead of her 25th death anniversary this month.
Her goal was to improve the lives of those who were in need, Ken writes.
“Regarding the conflict between William and Harry, Diana would have filled the position of the close relative who generally steps in to offer guidance when two siblings argue. She would have been able to relate to the issues brought up and assist her sons in resolving them, all the while giving Harry the guidance he appears to be lacking at the moment.” Without a doubt, she would have cherished their interactions with their wives and cherished time spent with her five grandchildren, Ken continued.
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Ken also considered the following as her 25th death anniversary approached: “Nobody was quite like Diana. She is without a doubt the member of the royal family with the most charisma that I have ever encountered. I saw the things she accomplished, the difficulties she overcame, and her compassion and charity during my time with her.” My main responsibility was to keep her safe, but I was also there for her when she required assurance, the odd bit of counsel, or even a reassuring hug.
“This personal touch was unlike anything I had encountered in my 16 years of duty to the royal family, but it was Diana’s way of working and, for the first time in my life, I learned how vital it is to listen,” said the royal family employee.
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As geopolitical tensions reach new highs, and some governments are spending billions on nuclear weapons in a false bid for peace and security, countries must uphold the nearly 80-year norm against the use of nuclear weapons, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in New York on Monday.
The UN chief was speaking at the opening of the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which runs through 26 August.
Mr. Guterres highlighted some of the current challenges to global peace and security, with the world under greater stress due to the climate crisis, stark inequalities, conflicts and human rights violations, as well as the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disarmament not disunity
He said the meeting is taking place amid these challenges, and at a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War.
"Geopolitical tensions are reaching new highs. Competition is trumping co-operation and collaboration. Distrust has replaced dialogue and disunity has replaced disarmament. States are seeking false security in stockpiling and spending hundreds of billions of dollars on doomsday weapons that have no place on our planet," he said.
Currently, almost 13,000 nuclear weapons are now being held in arsenals around the world, he added.
"All this at a time when the risks of proliferation are growing and guardrails to prevent escalation are weakening. And when crises -- with nuclear undertones -- are festering, From the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula. To the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and to many other factors around the world."
He said today, humanity was "just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation."
A new path
The Secretary-General underlined the importance of the non-proliferation treaty, saying it is needed "as much as ever", while the review meeting provides an opportunity "to put humanity on a new path towards a world free of nuclear weapons."
He outlined five areas for action, starting with reinforcing and reaffirming the norm against the use of nuclear weapons, which requires steadfast commitment from all parties to the treaty.
"We need to strengthen all avenues of dialogue and transparency. Peace cannot take hold in an absence of trust and mutual respect," he said.
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Countries also must "work relentlessly" towards the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons, which begins with new commitment to shrink their numbers.
This will also mean reinforcing multilateral agreements and frameworks on disarmament and non-proliferation, which includes the important work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Address 'simmering tensions'
For his third point, Mr. Guterres focused on the need to address the "simmering tensions" in the Middle East and Asia.
"By adding the threat of nuclear weapons to enduring conflicts, these regions are edging towards catastrophe. We need to redouble our support for dialogue and negotiation to ease tensions and forge new bonds of trust in regions that have seen too little," he said.
The Secretary-General also called for promoting the peaceful use of nuclear technology, such as for medical purposes, as a catalyst for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Finally, he urged governments to fulfill all outstanding commitments in the treaty, "and keep it fit-for-purpose in these trying times."
President Zelenskyy visits one of Ukraine’s main Black Sea ports to oversee grain being loaded for export as deadly strikes on a prison spark a blame game on the 156th day of fighting.
Russia's foreign ministry, in a statement on the call, said that relations between the two nations "are in strong need of normalisation."
(Reuters)
Friday, July 29, 2022
US, Russia top diplomats hold first talks since Ukraine conflict
The top diplomats of the United States and Russia spoke for the first time since the Ukraine conflict, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken describing a "frank" exchange as he pushed to free two Americans.
Blinken initiated the call with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whom he had shunned as early as a few weeks ago, as he pressed Russia to accept an offer to free prisoners.
Lavrov told Blinken that Washington was not living up to promises regarding the exemption from sanctions for the supply of food from Russia, Moscow said.
A Russian foreign ministry read-out of the call also cited Lavrov as telling Blinken that Russia would achieve all the goals of its "special military operation" in Ukraine and said western arms supplies would only drag out the conflict.
US sanctions two Russians for malign influence operations
The US Treasury Department said it had imposed sanctions on two individuals and four entities that support the Kremlin's global malign influence and election interference operations.
"The individuals and entities designated today played various roles in Russia’s attempts to manipulate and destabilise the United States and its allies and partners, including Ukraine," the Treasury said in a statement, naming the individuals as Russian citizens Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov and Natalya Valeryevna Burlinova.
Ukraine opens investigation into attack that killed Ukrainian prisoners of war
The Ukrainian prosecutor general's office opened a pre-trial investigation into an attack that killed about 40 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
It said "the occupying state struck the territory of correctional colony No. 120" in an attack in which 130 people were also injured.
Each side accused the other of carrying out the attack in territory held by Russian-backed separatists.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready to ship grain, awaits signal to start
Ukraine's president visited a Black Sea port to show his country is ready to start exporting grain under a Türkiye-brokered deal aimed at easing global food shortages, and said Kiev was awaiting the signal for the first shipment.
"We are ready to export Ukrainian grain. We are waiting for signals from our partners about the start of transportation," Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app after visiting the port of Chornomorsk near the southern city of Odessa.
Russia's FM Lavrov discusses with his American counterpart Blinken, says:
- Russia to meet targets of special military operation in Ukraine - Global food situation complicated by US sanctions - Suggestion to Blinken two sides return to quiet diplomacy pic.twitter.com/YKD1H5ufJJ
Zelenskyy visits Ukraine port to oversee first grain export
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited a port in southern Ukraine to oversee grain being loaded for export onto a ship, the presidency has said, following a Türkiye-brokered deal with Russia.
"The first vessel, the first ship is being loaded since the beginning of the war. This is a Turkish vessel," Zelenskyy said, according to a statement from the presidency. Video footage from the Chornomorsk port released by the presidency showed him in front of a ship called Polarnet.
The statement said exports could start in "the coming days" under the plan aimed at getting millions of tonnes of Ukrainian grain stranded by Russia's naval blockade to world markets.
Macron, bin Salman to work to ‘ease effects’ of Ukraine conflict
French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have agreed to work "to ease the effects" of the conflict in Ukraine during talks in Paris.
The French presidency said in a statement that the leaders highlighted "the need to bring an end to this conflict and intensify their cooperation to ease the effects in Europe, the Middle East and the wider world".
The statement made no explicit reference to oil or gas, but said Macron had "underlined the importance of continuing the ongoing coordination with Saudi Arabia with regards to the diversification of energy supplies for European countries."
Lavrov: Moscow will propose time for Blinken call on prisoners
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Moscow would soon propose a time for a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in which Blinken has said he wants to discuss an exchange of prisoners held in Russian and US jails.
Blinken said on Wednesday that Washington had made a "substantial offer" to obtain the release of US basketball star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan, both detained in Russia.
A source said that Washington was willing to exchange convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout, jailed in the United States, as part of such a deal.
Kremlin: Russia is in solidarity with Beijing over Taiwan
Russia is in solidarity with Chinese President Xi Jinping over China's sovereignty on the issue of Taiwan, the Kremlin has said.
"No country should call it into question," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.
Russia supports Beijing's "One China" policy on the issue of Taiwan, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier, after Xi warned US President Joe Biden not to "play with fire" over the island.
Germany to send Ukraine 16 bridge-layer tanks
Germany's defence minister has decided to deliver 16 BIBER bridge-layer tanks to Ukrainian forces, the ministry said.
"The BIBER will enable Ukrainian troops to cross waters or obstacles in combat," the ministry said in a statement. "The delivery of the first six systems will take place this year, starting in autumn. Ten more systems will follow next year."
Ukrainian court lowers Russian soldier's sentence
An appeals court in Kiev has reduced to 15 years the life sentence of a Russian soldier convicted in the first "war crimes" trial since Russia began its military intervention in Ukraine.
Critics said the sentencing of Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old contract soldier who pleaded guilty to killing a civilian and was convicted in May, was unduly harsh, given that he confessed to the crime, said he was following orders and expressed remorse.
His defence lawyer, Viktor Ovsyannikov, had appealed to the court to reduce the sentence to 10 years. He said it was highly likely Shishimarin would be returned to Russia in a prisoner exchange.
North Macedonia donates tanks to Ukraine
North Macedonia has plans to donate an unspecified number of Soviet-era tanks to Ukraine as it seeks to modernise its own military to meet NATO standards, its defence ministry said.
In a statement, the ministry said Ukraine will receive tanks belonging to the western Balkan country's tank battalion which is in the process of being upgraded.
Russia steps up its military campaign by carrying out deadly strikes across Ukraine. Our correspondent Aksel Zaimovic has the latest from Kiev pic.twitter.com/5moQ4wzZRg
At least 40 Ukrainian prisoners captured during the fighting for Mariupol have been killed by Ukrainian shelling, Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have said. Kiev has in turned blamed Russia for the deadly attack.
Daniil Bezsonov, a spokesperson for the separatists in the Donetsk region, said that at least 40 Ukrainian prisoners were killed and 130 were injured on Friday when Ukrainian shelling hit a prison in the town of Olenivka. There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian authorities to the report.
The Russian army accused Kiev's forces of striking the jail with US-made HIMARS rocket systems. "Forty Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed and 75 wounded," the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that eight employees of the detention centre were also injured.
UK: Russia is failing in many areas of Ukraine conflict
Britain's defence minister Ben Wallace has said that Russia is failing in "many areas" in its conflict in Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin might seek to change strategy again.
"The Russians are failing at the moment on the ground in many areas...Putin's plan A, B, and C has failed and he may look to plan D," Wallace told Sky News television.
Russian strikes kill several at bus stop in south Ukraine
Russian strikes on the heavily bombed Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv near the country's southern frontline killed four people and wounded seven more on Friday, the regional governor said.
"Today, they shot at another area near a public transport stop. According to the latest information, four people are dead and seven are injured," Vitaliy Kim said in a statement on social media.
UPDATE: Ukraine hits prison in Russia-controlled Donetsk region with Himars missiles, killing at least 40 of its own soldiers captured during clashes with Russian forces and wounding 75 others - Russian Foreign Ministry
Russia's Lavrov says Moscow will propose time for call with Blinken
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Moscow will soon propose a date for a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Blinken said on Wednesday he planned to hold a conversation with Lavrov to discuss an exchange of prisoners held in Russian and US jails.
Ukraine steps up its offensive in south, Russia bombs Kiev
Ukraine increased its counter-attacks against Russian forces in the south while Moscow bombed Kiev's outskirts for the first time in weeks as Europe's biggest conflict since World War Two dragged on with no end in sight.
Air raid sirens blared as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed parliament alongside visiting Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, as Ukraine marked its Day of Ukrainian Statehood with a public holiday for the first time on Thursday.
The attack shattered the sense of normalcy that has returned to life in Kiev since Russian forces abandoned attempts to capture the city in the first weeks of the conflict, in the face of fierce Ukrainian resistance.
"This was Russia offering greetings on Ukraine’s Day of State Sovereignty"
Governor Vyacheslav Chausov
For live updates from Thursday (July 28), click here
