A deadly Russian strike on a crowded supermarket in Kharkiv has killed 14 people while seven remain missing.
Ukrainian prosecutors said the death toll is still rising on Sunday morning after two guided bombs hit the Epicentr DIY hypermarket on Saturday afternoon.
The strikes caused a massive fire which sent a column of thick, black smoke billowing hundreds of metres into the air.
Forty-three people were injured, the local prosecutors’ office said, adding that ten of the twelve dead had still not been identified.
Andriy Kudinov, director of the suburban shopping centre, told local media the hardware store was full of shoppers buying items for their summer cottages when the attack happened, while Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said about 120 people had been in the store when the bombs struck.
It took 16 hours to fully extinguish the fire at the centre, which had raged over an area of 13,000 square metres (15,548 square yards), Interior Minister Klymenko said.
The past week has seen an uptick in strikes on the city after Russian troops stormed across the border, opening a new front north of the city.
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Drone attack kills one in Russia
Russia claimed a Ukrainian drone attack has killed one person and wounded three others in western Russian.
One of the drones hit a gas station and damaged it, and another fell on it later, killing a firefighter, regional governor Andrei Klychkov said.
Arpan Rai27 May 2024 03:50
Russia says its forces take over village in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, TASS reports
Russian forces have taken over the village of Berestove in Ukraine‘s northeastern Kharkiv region, the TASS news agency cited Russia‘s defence ministry as saying on Sunday.
Reuters could not immediately verify the battlefield reports.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain27 May 2024 03:30
Zelensky urges Biden and Xi to join peace summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Sunday to join an upcoming peace summit as his country struggles to stave off unrelenting attacks by Russia in its 27-month-old invasion.
Moscow’s forces have in recent weeks advanced on the battlefield and stepped up air strikes on cities, and Kyiv hopes the June meeting in Switzerland will help pile international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In English-language video recorded inside the charred remains of a printing press destroyed on Thursday in a Russian air strike, Zelensky said the summit would “show who in the world really wants to end the war”.
“I am appealing to the leaders of the world who are still aside from the global efforts of the Global Peace Summit to President Biden, the leader of the United States, and to President Xi, the leader of China,” he said.
“Please, show your leadership in advancing the peace, the real peace and not just a pause between the strikes.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain27 May 2024 02:30
These Ukrainians fear they will be the next target for Putin’s forces – but they will fight to the last
Askold Krushelnycky reports from Sumy, near the border with Russia. About three hours’ drive from the fierce battles around Kharkiv, the area is preparing for its own assault by Moscow’s troops:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain27 May 2024 01:30
Why are top Russian military officials being arrested
It began last month with the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister. Then the head of the ministry’s personnel directorate was hauled into court. This week, two more senior military officials were detained. All face charges of corruption, which they have denied.
The arrests began after President Vladimir Putin began his fifth term and shuffled his ally, longtime Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, into a new post.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain27 May 2024 00:30
China sending ‘lethal equipment’ to Russia for Ukraine war, Grant Shapps warns
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China is providing Russia with lethal aid for use in its war against Ukraine, Grant Shapps has warned.
The defence secretary suggested that British and US intelligence contradicts Beijing’s previous attempts to present itself as a moderating influence on Moscow and President Xi’s government is instead helping to arm Russia.
Mr Shapps used a speech at the London Defence Conference to reveal China’s collaboration as he argued Nato needs to “wake up” and bolster defence spending alliance-wide.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 May 2024 23:30
European Union criticises Russia for removing Estonian buoys, demand an explanation from Moscow
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday called the removal of Estonian buoys by Russian border guards on a river separating the Baltic country from Russia “unacceptable,” and demanded an explanation from Moscow and the immediate return of the orange floating devices.
Early Thursday, Estonian border guards noticed that their Russian counterpart had removed 25 of the 50 buoys that Estonia had installed on the Narva River to prevent boats from accidentally crossing the border.
Borrell said the incident “is part of a broader pattern of provocative behavior and hybrid actions by Russia.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 May 2024 22:30
In pictures: Russian strike targets Kharkiv supermarket
Firefighters put out a fire after two guided bombs hit a large construction supplies store in Kharkiv.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 May 2024 21:30
The death toll in Kharkiv attack rises to 14 as Zelenskyy warns of Russian troop movements
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Sunday that Russia is preparing to intensify its offensive along Ukraine’s northern border, as the death toll rose to 14 in an aerial bomb attack on a large construction supplies store in the city of Kharkiv.
The bombing of Kharkiv on Saturday afternoon also left 43 injured and 16 missing, Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.
In a video statement from Kharkiv, Zelenskyy said that Russia is preparing offensive actions 90 kilometers (55 miles) northwest of Ukraine’s second largest city. He said that Russians “gather another group of troops near our border.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 May 2024 20:30
Macron begins the first state visit to Germany by a French president in 24 years
President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Germany Sunday for the first state visit by a French head of state in 24 years, a three-day trip meant to underline the strong ties between the European Union’s traditional leading powers.
The visit was originally meant to take place last July but was postponed at the last minute due to rioting in France following the killing of a 17-year-old by police.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 May 2024 19:30