Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones on large parts of Ukraine overnight. Air defense units intercepted 31 drones and 12 cruise missiles launched by Russia in the regions of Mykolaiv, Odessa, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Chernihiv and others.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Sunday that Russia was preparing to intensify its offensive along Ukraine’s northern border, as the death toll rose to 16 dead in strike on building materials hypermarket in Kharkiv citythe day before.
The bombing of Kharkiv on Saturday afternoon also caused 43 injured and 16 missingKharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said immediately after the attack.
In a video statement broadcast from Kharkiv, Mr. Zelensky stated that Russia was preparing offensive actions 90 kilometers northwest of Ukraine’s second city. He added that the Russians “are assembling another group of troops near our border.”
He did not specify where the troops were gathered, but Ukrainian officials expressed their serious concern about the Sumy region. The cities of Kharkiv and Sumy, which have around 250,000 inhabitants, are both around 25 kilometers from the Russian border.
“It is Russia that is the only source of aggression and is constantly trying to expand the war. These days we are defending ourselves literally 60 kilometers northeast of here from another attempted offensive Russian.
Russia is also preparing to attempt an offensive 90 kilometers from here, to the northwest – another group of troops is gathering near our border. Those who do all this do not want peace.
Does Russia want dialogue? Ukraine has the greatest experience in the world of being deceived by Russia during negotiations. A deception which, among other things, served as a cover for Russia to prepare for this war.did he declare.
Vast Russian offensive in northeastern Ukraine
In recent weeks, Moscow’s troops have captured villages in the Kharkiv region as part of a vast offensive, and analysts believe they could try to get within artillery range of the city. Ukrainian authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 people from the region since the offensive began on May 10.
Russian forces are carrying out offensive attacks on the 1,000-kilometer front linewith pitched battles in the direction of Chassiv Yar, in the Donetsk region, where “the intensity of hostilities is quite high”according to a press release from the Ukrainian General Staff. “Defence forces are taking measures to prevent enemy advances.”
Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones over much of Ukraine overnight. Ukrainian authorities said air defense units intercepted 31 Shahed drones and 12 cruise missiles launched by Russia in the Mykolaiv, Odessa, Dnipro, Poltava, Zaporizhia, Khmelnytskyi, Kyrovohrad, Vinnytsia and Chernihiv regions.
In total, Russia launched 14 missiles and more than three dozen drones, according to a press release from the Ukrainian Air Force. The damage caused by the missiles and drones that were not shot down is unclear.
The governor of Belgorod region of Russiawhich is across the border from Ukraine, said that four people injured in Ukrainian attacks overnight. The Russian Defense Ministry said seven drones were shot down over the Kursk region and three over Oryol, two regions north of Belgorod.