KYIV, Ukraine — A missile assault within the heart of a northern Ukrainian metropolis killed seven individuals and wounded scores of others on Saturday, whereas Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Sweden, his first go to to the nation since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine final 12 months.
As Zelenskyy arrived in Sweden, a Russian missile strike killed seven individuals and wounded 117 others within the metropolis heart of Chernihiv, the regional capital of the northern Ukrainian province of the identical title, performing mayor Oleksandr Lomako mentioned. A 6-year-old woman was among the many lifeless, whereas the wounded included 12 youngsters.
Zelenskyy condemned the assault, which he mentioned hit buildings together with a theater and a college.
“This is what a neighborhood with a terrorist state is, this is what we unite the whole world against. A Russian missile hit right in the center of the city, in our Chernihiv,” he wrote on Telegram. “A square, the polytechnic university, a theater. An ordinary Saturday, which Russia turned into a day of pain and loss.”
The Swedish authorities mentioned Zelenskyy will meet officers at Harpsund, the prime minister’s official summertime residence, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Stockholm. He may even meet Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at a palace within the space.
Sweden deserted its longstanding coverage of army nonalignment to assist Ukraine with weapons and different support within the struggle in opposition to Russia. The authorities says Sweden has offered 20 billion kronor (1.7 billion euros) in army assist to Ukraine, together with Archer artillery items, Leopard 2 tanks, CV-90 infantry preventing automobiles, grenade launchers, anti-tank weapons, mine clearing gear and ammunition. Sweden additionally utilized for NATO membership however remains to be ready to affix the alliance.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin visited high army officers within the metropolis of Rostov-on-Don close to the Ukrainian border.
The Kremlin mentioned that Putin listened to experiences from Valery Gerasimov, the commander answerable for Moscow’s operations in Ukraine, and different high army brass on the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District.
The precise timings of his go to weren’t confirmed, however state media revealed video footage that seemed to be filmed at evening, displaying Gerasimov greeting Putin and main him right into a constructing. The assembly itself was held behind closed doorways.
It was Putin’s first go to to Rostov-on-Don for the reason that Wagner mercenary group ’s tried mutiny in June, when the group’s fighters briefly took management of the town.
During June’s short-lived revolt, Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin repeatedly denounced Gerasimov, who serves as chief of the final workers of the Russian armed forces, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for denying provides to his fighters in Ukraine.
Prigozhin claimed that the rebellion was not geared toward Putin however at eradicating Gerasimov and different high brass who he accused of mismanaging the struggle in Ukraine.
Kyiv this week has claimed counteroffensive positive factors on the southeastern entrance, regaining management of the village of Urozhaine in Ukraine’s jap Donetsk area on Wednesday.
The chief of the Russian battalion preventing to take care of management of Urozhaine known as for “freezing the front” on Thursday, saying his troops “cannot win” in opposition to Ukraine.
“Can we bring down Ukraine militarily? Now and in the near future, no,” Alexander Khodakovsky mentioned in a video posted to Telegram.
Overnight into Saturday, Ukraine’s air drive mentioned it shot down 15 out of 17 Russian drones focusing on northern, central and western areas.
The deputy governor of the western Khmelnytskyi area, Serhii Tiurin, mentioned two individuals have been wounded and dozens of buildings broken by an assault.
In the northwestern Zhytomyr area, a Russian drone assault focused an infrastructure facility and prompted a hearth, however no casualties have been reported, mentioned Gov. Vitalii Bunechko.
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