A third world war would go nuclear, Russia has warned as international tensions continued to escalate over its invasion of Ukraine.
The Kremlin will not allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Mr Lavrov said Ukraine obtaining nukes would lead to “real danger” for Russia.
On the seventh day of bloodshed ordered by Vladimir Putin, shelling in Kharkiv has killed at least 25 people and injured at least 120 as Russian paratroopers attacked the city overnight and on Wednesday morning.
The Russian defence ministry has claimed to have captured Kherson, a key port city on the Black Sea coast.
But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said that Russia’s claim to Kherson was false.
“The city has not fallen, our side continues to defend,” he said.
In Kyiv, mayor Vitali Klitschko said Russia’s troops are getting closer, after a 40-mile military convoy has stoked fears of a full-blown assault on the capital.