A woman and young child sit in a metro station to shelter during an air raid in Kyiv/ Getty Images
Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, experienced its first Russian air attack in 52 days, as reported by city officials on the Telegram messaging app. Mayor Vitali Klitschko conveyed that “strong explosions were heard” in the early hours of Saturday morning, with preliminary information suggesting successful interception by air defense systems.
Residents were instructed to seek refuge in air raid shelters, and as of the initial reports, there were no indications of casualties following the air attack, according to Reuters.
The strikes coincided with President Volodymyr Zelensky commemorating the first anniversary of Kherson’s liberation from Russia, praising the city’s residents for their inspiring resistance.
Odesa, situated approximately 275 miles (442 km) from Kyiv, also experienced missile attacks. Oleg Kiper, the head of administration for the region, reported at least two missile attacks, resulting in three injuries and the hospitalization of a 96-year-old woman, whose condition is reported to be stable.
Earlier in the week, Ukrainian officials revealed a Russian missile striking a civilian ship entering Odesa, causing the death of a 43-year-old harbour pilot and injuring three Filipino crewmembers and a port worker.
During a G7 meeting in Japan, foreign ministers from leading nations, along with EU representatives, acknowledged Russia’s preparedness for a protracted war in Ukraine. They emphasized that the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict should not divert attention from supporting Ukraine, reaffirming their commitment to providing economic and military support to Kyiv.
Expressing concerns about “Ukraine fatigue” among Western nations, particularly regarding their ability to withstand Russian forces, French President Emmanuel Macron, in an exclusive interview with the BBC’s Europe Editor Katya Adler, asserted that it was France’s “duty” to assist Ukraine. Macron warned of the potential emergence of a new imperial power in Europe if Russia were allowed to triumph, posing threats to former Soviet states like Georgia and Kazakhstan, as well as the entire continent. While denouncing Russia’s actions as imperialism and colonialism in Ukraine, Macron hinted at the possibility of “fair and good negotiations” with Moscow in the future.
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