Ukrainian forces have struck an oil depot in the occupied Luhansk region, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA, as cited Russian media and Russian military bloggers. The impact caused a fire in the oil warehouse in the town of Rovenki.
TASS reports that three people died in the shelling, citing local health authorities. Seven people were injured, four of whom are in serious condition. One child was among the victims.
Canada has announced that it is giving 76 million Canadian dollars (51.6 million euros) to contribute to the financing of the air defense systems that Germany wants to provide to Ukraine, France Press reported, cited by BTA.
"This investment will help Ukraine defend itself against the brutal attacks that destroyed hospitals, power plants and residential buildings and killed thousands of innocent Ukrainians," Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said during a joint press conference with the German Defense Minister , who is visiting Canada.
Pistorius, for his part, explained that anti-missile systems "Iris-T" will be delivered to Kiev in the coming weeks. "We have no time to waste," he added.
Last month, Germany called on its allies to procure and finance more of the air defense systems that Kiev wants, at a time when Russia continues to attack Ukrainian infrastructure.
The German initiative comes at a time when the Czech Republic has launched a program to finance the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine.
In late April, Washington encouraged countries possessing Patriot missile systems; to donate them to Ukraine.
Russia launched a ground offensive yesterday in the Kharkiv region, in northeastern Ukraine, where there have been no similar attacks since the withdrawal of Kremlin forces in the fall of 2022, when Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive there, AFP noted, quoted from BTA.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that intense fighting was taking place along the entire front line, reported AFP.
He made this announcement on social networks after being informed about the situation on the battlefield by the commander of the armed forces.
"We discussed defensive actions and means of strengthening our positions in the Kharkiv region," Zelensky said.
Ukraine is sending reinforcements to that area and is responding to the Russian attack there with artillery and drones, the president added.
He also said that Ukraine would respond to the new Russian challenge with force and invited Western countries to provide additional military aid to Kiev.
"Along our national border and our front line, we will invariably destroy the occupier in such a way as to prevent Russia's offensive intentions," Zelensky said. "It is important that our partners support our military by providing them with military materials in a timely manner," he added.
Earlier this evening, the US announced the allocation of new military aid to Ukraine in the amount of about 400 million dollars, DPA recalls.
In Washington, White House spokesman John Kirby said that the Russian offensive in northeastern Ukraine will certainly intensify in the coming weeks and will involve more troops, but this will not lead to significant breakthroughs for Russia, reported France Press . According to the spokesman, Russia will try to establish a buffer zone along the border.
The US has confidence in Ukrainian forces and is working tirelessly to provide them with the weapons they need to defend against these attacks, Kirby said.
Earlier yesterday, the governor of the Kharkiv region announced that Russian subversive groups tried to penetrate the border into the Kharkiv region, Reuters reported. This happened against the background of increased shelling of the city of Vovchansk.
The Russian attempts have been repelled and the Ukrainian forces are “confidently holding their positions and have not lost a single meter”, Oleg Sinegubov wrote on the “Telegram” platform. The head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration said that Russia does not have the resources to advance on the city of Kharkiv and called the actions on the border a “provocation”.