KHARKIV, Ukraine – Homes in the city of Kharkiv emerged unscathed from a missile attack launched by Russia on Sunday, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. The missile landed in a residential district, but no damage or injuries were reported. Nearby Vovchansk also experienced strikes, although there were no casualties thus far. Both cities lie close to the border with Russia’s Belgorod region.
In a show of solidarity, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, who had sought refuge in a bomb shelter in Kyiv during an air alert, announced a pledge of $37 million to a NATO fund supporting equipment such as drone detection systems. She also offered donations of mobile gas turbine generators and transformers to help alleviate power shortages stemming from Russian attacks.
The UK Ministry of Defence issued an intelligence update stating that Rosgvardia, the Russian National Guard, is being forced to reinforce its resources and personnel due to internal security disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine.
Tragedy struck in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk on Saturday, as a Russian missile strike claimed the lives of 11 people, including five children. The governor of the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region, Vadym Filashkin, condemned the “mass shelling” carried out by Russian forces in Pokrovsk.
Addressing a defense conference, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom emphasized that supporting Ukraine would be the primary focus of Sweden’s foreign policy in the coming years.
In a bid to reduce its dependence on Russia, the UK announced plans to invest £300 million in a program aimed at producing advanced nuclear fuel for the next generation of power-generating reactors. Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, warned against being at the mercy of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin when it comes to nuclear fuel. Russia’s monopoly on advanced reactor fuel production is set to be dismantled.
Over 100 residents of the Russian border city of Belgorod have evacuated to safer areas further away from Ukraine, due to ongoing shelling and drone attacks. Belgorod plays a crucial role in the supply lines for Russia’s invasion forces.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine, speaking via video link at a conference in Sweden, expressed hope that Russia could be brought back within the framework of international law and its aggression defeated.
European Council President Charles Michel has announced he will step down early from his position, potentially opening the door for Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to exert more influence over EU policymaking. EU leaders must quickly agree on Michel’s successor.
In summary, Kharkiv and Vovchansk narrowly escaped casualties and damage from a Russian missile attack, while tragedy struck in Pokrovsk. International support for Ukraine remains strong, with Japan pledging assistance and Sweden prioritizing Ukrainian support in its foreign policy. The UK aims to reduce its reliance on Russian nuclear fuel, and the situation near the Ukrainian border has prompted evacuation in the Russian city of Belgorod. President Zelenskiy holds out hope for a resolution within the bounds of international law, and the early departure of Charles Michel as European Council President may have significant implications for EU policymaking.