The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said Thursday that “despite Russian statements indicating an intended reduction of military activity around Chernihiv, significant Russian shelling and missile strikes have continued.
“Russian forces continue to hold positions to the east and west of Kyiv despite the withdrawal of a limited number of units,” it added in a tweet. “Heavy fighting will likely take place in the suburbs of the city in coming days.”
Ukraine-Russia talks to resume Friday by video, Turkey hoping for another in-person meeting
Talks aimed at ending the war are set to resume Friday by video, Ukrainian delegation leader David Arakhamia says.
During in-person talks in Istanbul Tuesday, Ukraine set out a detailed framework for a peace deal under which the country would remain neutral but its security would be guaranteed by a group of third countries, including the U.S., Britain, France, Turkey, China and Poland.
Meanwhile, top Turkish diplomat Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday that Turkey is hoping to arrange another meeting between Ukraine and Russia within the next two weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ukraine claims Russia has lost about 17,500 people, more than 6,000 tanks
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense claimed that Russia has lost about 17,500 people, 6,614 tanks, 1,735 armored vehicles, 311 artillery systems, 54 anti-aircraft systems, 135 planes, 131 helicopters, 1,201 vehicles, 7 ships, and more.
Ukraine says 380 kids killed or injured in war
Ukraine’s prosecutor general claimed that 148 children have been killed and another 232 injured during the Russian invasion. She further said that 797 educational institutions had been damaged, 76 of which had been completely destroyed.
The United Nations Children’s Fund said Wednesday that two million children have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24.
“The situation inside Ukraine is spiralling,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. “As the number of children fleeing their homes continues to climb, we must remember that every single one of them needs protection, education, safety and support.”
UNICEF also estimates that more than 2.5 million children have been internally displaced inside of Ukraine. Overall, the U.N. believes more than 4 million people have fled Ukraine during the conflict.
Ukraine retakes three settlements from Russia
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that Ukrainian forces retook three settlements: Orlove, Zagradivka, and Kochubeyevka on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian forces also claimed that the Russian armed forces lost several senior military officers, including: Commander of the 1st Panzer Army Lieutenant General Serhiy Kisel, removed from office; Commander of the 6th General Army Lieutenant General Vladislav Yershov, removed from office and arrested; Chief of Staff – Deputy Commander of the 35th All-Military Army, Major General Sergei Nirkov, was seriously wounded; Chief of Staff – Deputy Commander of the 36th General Army, Major General Andrei Seritsky, was seriously wounded; Deputy Commander of the 41st All-Military Army, Lieutenant General Andriy Sukhovetsky, died; Commander of the 49th General Army Lieutenant General Yakov Ryazantsev, died; Commander of the 58th All-Military Army, Lieutenant General Mykhailo Zusk, was removed from office and arrested.
United Nations names panel of experts to examine war crimes in Russia
The United Nations named three human rights experts on Wednesday to investigate possible war crimes in Ukraine where Russia has been accused of indiscriminate bombardment of civilians, Reuters reported.
The independent panel, led by Erik Mose of Norway, will probe all accusations of rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law “in the context of the aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation,” a statement said.
China says it is seeking closer ties with Russia
China is seeking closer ties with Russia, even as the U.S. and other NATO nations have called on China to apply more pressure to Moscow amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
China and Russia are “more determined” to tighten their relationship, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
“Both sides are more determined to develop bilateral ties, and are more confident in promoting cooperation in various fields,” Wang said.
“China is willing to work with Russia to take China-Russian ties to a higher level in a new era under the guidance of the consensus reached by the heads of state,” he added.
Both sides have also condemned what they called illegal counter- productive sanctions against Russia, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Click here for Wednesday’s live coverage.