Russia-Ukraine War Updates: Ukrainian Strikes Kill 6 and More
RUSSIA – As the Russia-Ukraine war rages on, at least 6 people were killed and others injured in overnight Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod and Kherson regions.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the attack was on the settlement of Maslova Pristan, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the border with Ukraine, adding that ambulance crews were transporting the injured to medical facilities in Belgorod city.
According to him, the attack partially destroyed a social facility building, while the roof, windows, balconies, and facades of two apartment buildings were also damaged.
“Residents say the missile warning signal helped them – they managed to move away from the windows and take shelter in a safe place,” Gladkov said, adding that all residents will be relocated to a temporary accommodation facility.
Earlier, Gladkov briefly declared the entire region was under a missile alert.
The Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo said three civilians had been killed after two temporary housing buildings caught fire in the village of Zhelezny Port following Ukrainian shelling.
A medical vehicle was damaged in Gornostayevka and a home in Novaya Kakhovka had caught fire, but was later extinguished.
Russia Captures New Settlement in Zaporizhzhia Region
Russia on Wednesday claimed taking control of another settlement in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.
A statement by the Defense Ministry said its forces captured the village of Novohryhorivka, about 21 kilometers (13 miles) northeast of the city of Huliaipole, a key front in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.
Novohryhorivka is also situated near Zaporizhzhia’s administrative border with the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Earlier, Ukraine’s General Staff claimed 11 clashes occurred over the past day between Russian and Ukrainian forces near two settlements in the Huliaipole front, namely Malynivka and Poltavka, the latter of which is just 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) south of Novohryhorivka.
Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Using Oil Tankers to Collect Intelligence
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of using vessels belonging to its “shadow fleet” to gather intelligence and for sabotage efforts.
Following a meeting with head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Ivashchenko on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said through the US social media company X that the government body is actively working with Kyiv’s partners to prevent Russia from using its “shadow fleet” vessels for sabotage or “other attempts to destabilize Europe.”
“Currently, the Russians are using tankers not only to generate revenue for the war, but also for intelligence gathering and even sabotage activities. This can absolutely be stopped,” Zelenskyy said.
He further said that Kyiv is providing all necessary information to its partners and expects that efforts to counter Russia in this regard will be “significantly strengthened.”
Zelenskyy added that he instructed Ivashchenko to continue working with Ukraine’s partners in areas that can provide the war-torn country with “more tangible deliveries” of the weapons and equipment it needs.
In a later evening video address, Zelenskyy also stressed the “recent launches of drones from tankers” as an example of Moscow’s “sabotage and various destabilization attempts in Europe.”
“We share the information we have with our partners, and it is crucial that they take tangible steps in response to Russia. We are working toward this at all levels, and there will be further meetings, there will be negotiations with our partners, both public and behind closed doors,” he added.
Russian authorities have not immediately commented on Zelenskyy’s accusations.
