Kharkiv shelled as Russia maintains its offensive
KHARKIV, April 30, ( AFP) - Ukraine's second city Kharkiv was hit by multiple Russian shellings Saturday, though President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian forces are making “tactical successes” in the region.
Although Ukraine has retained control of Kharkiv, the city has been repeatedly battered by Moscow's forces and still faces daily attacks. One person was killed and five were injured “as a result of enemy artillery and mortar strikes”, the Kharkiv's regional military administration said.
“The situation in the Kharkiv region is tough. But our military, our intelligence, have important tactical success,” Zelensky said.
Ukrainian forces said they had recaptured a “strategically important” village of Ruska Lozova, near Kharkiv, and evacuated hundreds of civilians.
Russia confirmed Friday that it carried out an air strike on Kyiv during a visit by UN chief Antonio Guterres, the first such attack on the Ukrainian capital in nearly two weeks, and in which a journalist also died.
Russia's defence ministry said it had deployed “high-precision, long-range air-based weapons”.
Zelensky called for a stronger global response to Thursday's strikes, which immediately followed his talks in the city with the UN's secretary general. “It is unfortunate, but such a deliberate and brutal humiliation of the United Nations by Russia has gone unanswered,” he said.
Guterres had also toured Bucha and other Kyiv suburbs where Moscow is alleged to have committed war crimes. Russia denies killing civilians.
“I was moved by the resilience and bravery of the people of Ukraine. My message to them is simple: We will not give up,” Guterres tweeted. “The UN will redouble its efforts to save lives and reduce human suffering. In this war, as in all wars, the civilians always pay the highest price.”
“I think Russians aren't afraid of anything, not even the world's judgement,” Anna Hromovych, deputy director of a heavily damaged clinic, told AFP as she and others were cleaning up the devastation on Friday.