A summary of today's developments
Ukrainian officials said Russia struck the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa again and kept up a barrage that has damaged critical port infrastructure in southern Ukraine. At least one person was killed and 22 others wounded in the attack in the early hours of this morning local time.
The regional governor said four children are among those wounded in the blasts, which severely damaged the historic Transfiguration Cathedral, a landmark Orthodox cathedral in the city.
The archdeacon of the cathedral, Andrii Palchuk, rued the “enormous” destruction of the church – which he said was caused by a direct hit from a Russian missile.
The Russian defence ministry has denied that the intended target of strikes in Odesa was the Orthodox Cathedral. The ministry said it was more likely a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile that caused the damage.
The US ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, has condemned the attack on Odesa. Amnesty Ukraine also denounced how Russian forces have been “continuously showing disregard for civilian life”.
Russian president Vladimir Putin said Ukraine’s counteroffensive “has failed” as he hosted Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, his close ally, for talks in St Petersburg. Lukashenko claimed Minsk is “controlling” the situation with fighters from the Wagner group.
There has reportedly been no change in US policy on whether to provide long-range missiles to Ukraine despite growing pressure from lawmakers in Congress and Kiev’s government.
The Ukrainian defence ministry alleged Russia this morning shelled a cultural centre in Donetsk with cluster munitions.
