Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his troops have “no alternative” but to “push back and destroy the offensive potential” of Russian forces, as the battle moves from Luhansk to nearby Donetsk.
President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Russian troops on “liberating” the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk.
Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai discloses Ukrainian forces that retreated from Lysychansk are now holding the line between Bakhmut and Sloviansk, preparing to fend off a further Russian advance.
A Ukrainian presidential adviser claims Russia’s capture of Luhansk is its last victory on Ukraine’s territory, adding Kyiv is planning on counteroffensives in the south of the country where there are fewer Russian forces.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has met Ukraine’s president in Kyiv, with the two parties signing a joint statement on defence and energy cooperation.
Ukraine says 345 children dead amid war
At least 345 children have died in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s invasion and 644 have been wounded, the prosecutor general’s office has reported.
Most child casualties occurred in the Donetsk region (345), followed by the regions of Kharkiv (185), Kyiv (116), Chernihiv (68), Luhansk (61), Mykolaiv (53), Kherson (52) and Zaporizhia (31), the prosecutor general said.
The office said figures were not final as work was still underway to establish them in places of active hostilities, temporarily occupied areas and territories “liberated” by Ukraine.
Russian missiles hit Mykolaiv: Mayor
Russian missiles struck the Black Sea port city of Mykolaiv on Tuesday morning, the mayor has said as air raid sirens were activated across the city.
“In the morning, the occupiers fired rockets at Mykolaiv. Rescuers, medics, emergency crews and utility workers are already working on the ground. I will let you know more information later,” Oleksandr Senkevich said on Telegram.
Social media users also reported the strikes with one saying: “There is a column of thick black smoke over the city. The blow was strong!”
Missiles struck Mykolaiv several times over the last few days. On June 30, authorities said a strike on a residential building killed six people and wounded at least another six.
Ukraine now says no troops yet on recovered Snake Island to raise its flag
The Ukrainian flag has been delivered by helicopter to Snake Island in the Black Sea after Russian forces withdrew from the strategic outpost last week, and it will be raised as soon as Ukrainian troops arrive, Ukraine’s military has said.
Natalia Humeniuk, spokeswoman for Ukraine’s southern military command, had initially said the flag had been raised on the craggy outcropping in the Black Sea.
“The flag has been delivered to the island by helicopter,” Ukrainian media quoted Humeniuk as telling CNN television. “It will await the arrival of troops and will then be hoisted.”
Homeniuk said her original remarks to reporters should be viewed “metaphorically”. No troops had landed on the island and “No one is taking any risks for the sake of a media photo”. Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych says most of Russia’s troops are concentrated in eastern Ukraine, making their offensive in the south vulnerable to Kyiv’s forces.
You must be logged in to post a comment.