At least two people were killed in Russian shelling of the city of Seversk in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, local authorities reported, quoted by DPA and BTA.
"I repeat: it is dangerous to stay in Donetsk region", regional governor Vadim Filashkin wrote on "Telegram", calling on the civilian population to evacuate.
Seversk is located only about 10 km from the front line. Before the war, the city's population was nearly 10,000 people.
There were casualties on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides in Kherson region today. At least two civilians were killed in Russian shelling and 14 were injured, the regional prosecutor's office reported on "Telegram". The Russian army has attacked the area with artillery, bombs and drones.
According to local authorities, there have also been casualties on the opposite bank of the Dnieper River, where Russian forces are stationed. The regional head appointed by Moscow, Vladimir Saldo, reported on "Telegram" that at least two people were killed and six were injured.
The Finnish government has announced that it intends to extend the closure of its border with Russia, extending the validity of a controversial temporary law that allows border guards to deny asylum seekers entry to Finland under certain conditions, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
The temporary law came into force on July 22 in response to the influx of asylum seekers arriving at the border with Russia in the autumn of 2023.
Helsinki insists that their arrival was organised by Moscow, a charge the Kremlin denies.
Finland's Interior Ministry said the border closure and the new law had put an end to the use of immigration as a means of pressure.
According to a press release, the ministry wanted to "extend the validity" of the law, although a ministry official told AFP that an assessment would be made regarding the length of the extension.
"The security situation on Finland's eastern border is tense but stable for the time being. However, we must be prepared to face rapid and critical changes," Interior Minister Marie Rantanen said. In December 2023, Helsinki closed its 1,340-kilometer border with its eastern neighbor indefinitely.
The Baltic country has no intention of opening the border for now, the minister stressed.
Both experts and the Finnish government itself have acknowledged that the controversial temporary law is inconsistent with Finland's constitution and international human rights commitments. The measures are intended to counter what Finnish authorities say are "Russian hybrid attacks" for a period of one month, only in specific areas of the country and if its sovereignty and security are deemed to be threatened. Only vulnerable asylum seekers, such as children and people with disabilities, will be able to apply. Their admission will be at the discretion of border guards and their decisions will not be subject to appeal.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for a state dinner at his country residence in Chequers, Buckinghamshire, to discuss a wide range of issues, PA Media/DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Starmer indicated that among the topics discussed would be discussed "a number of issues of concern", including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Macron, for his part, said that the meeting was "a wonderful opportunity" to discuss EU-UK relations and the "main crisis" in Ukraine.