Russia fired five missiles on Ukraine’s southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Friday, killing at least four people, injuring 20 and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, the regional governor said. Two journalists covering the aftermath of the strikes were among those wounded in the city, near the war’s frontline. Ivan Fedorov, the governor, said: “First there were two missile strikes, and then, about 40 minutes later, there were other strikes at the same place – just as rescuers, police started working.” Reuters TV footage showed reporters rushing to help colleagues lying injured on the ground before emergency crews arrived.
A Ukrainian drone attack targeting the Morozovsk airbase in Russia killed or injured 20 members of airfield personnel and destroyed six Russian warplanes, as well as badly damaging eight others, according to officials in Kyiv. Russian defence officials, however, claimed they intercepted more than 40 Ukrainian drones and only a power substation was damaged in the barrage. Neither side’s claims could be independently verified. Morozovsk airbase is used by Russian tactical bombers that launch guided bombs at the Ukrainian military and frontline towns and cities, according to a Kyiv source.
Russian forces have taken control of the settlement of Vodyane in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Russia’s defence ministry claimed on Friday. The ministry’s statement – the latest of several claimed advances by Russian forces since they took nearby Avdiivka in February – could not be independently verified. Earlier on Friday, Russia’s state-run RIA news agency cited an official as saying Russian troops had entered the suburbs of Chasiv Yar, farther north near Bakhmut. The Ukrainian military denied Russian advances in the town.
Russian investigators claim to have found pro-Ukraine data on the phone of one of the Moscow terror attack suspects, despite evidence that an Islamic State offshoot was responsible. The data showed that on the war’s second anniversary in February he had trawled for photographs of the Crocus City Hall and sent it to others, Russia’s investigative committee alleged, also saying it found photos of men in camouflage holding the Ukrainian flag. Human rights experts have warned that any statements from the suspects should be met with scepticism as the men appeared to have been tortured.
Pro-Russian separatists in Moldova claimed an explosive drone hit a military base, without causing injuries or major damage, three weeks after an allegedly similar incident. The strike was in Rybnitsa district, 6km (3.7 miles) from the Ukraine border, the region’s ministry for state security said on Friday. “The target was a radar station that suffered minor damage. A group of investigators is on-site,” it added, without directly blaming Ukraine.
A Russian governor was hospitalised after being stabbed, a spokesperson has said. Andrey Chibis, governor of far northern Murmansk, was stabbed in the stomach on Thursday evening outside a cultural centre in Apatity town, where he had been holding a meeting. Chibis said in a video posted on Telegram from his hospital bed early on Friday that he had “come around” after surgery and that doctors had saved his life. Chibis was sanctioned by the EU in 2022 over his support for the Kremlin’s Ukraine offensive.
Authorities in Russia’s eastern city of Khabarovsk declared a state of emergency in an area where a “radiation source” was found, according to Russia’s Tass news agency. It said elevated radiation levels were detected near a power pylon about 2.5km from residential buildings. Nobody had been injured or exposed to radiation so far and radiation levels would be monitored for the next two days, it said.
The Kremlin has called the French president’s assertions that Russia plans to disrupt the coming Paris Olympics “absolutely unfounded”. Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he had “no doubt” that Russia would target the Games this July and August.
The UK foreign secretary will travel to the US next week and urge politicians to approve a $60bn package of aid for Ukraine which Republicans have held up for months. David Cameron said on X (formerly Twitter): “Britain has put forward its money for Ukraine this year, so has the European Union. America needs to do it.”
Doctors Without Borders said a Russian missile strike on Ukrainian-held Pokrovsk had “completely destroyed” its office in the town. The humanitarian organisation said on X that it “condemns this attack on the office, which supports its emergency medical humanitarian assistance”.
Japan has announced new sanctions against Russia, banning exports of 164 goods to Russia including automobile engine oil and optical equipment. The trade ministry is also expected to ban imports of Russian nonindustrial diamonds.
