Ukrainians are celebrating their recapture of the north-eastern town of Izyum, one amongst the highlights of their counter-offensive that has marked a brand new introduce the war.
But on Th, proof began to emerge of the injury inflicted by Russian troops throughout their five-month occupation.
The BBC’s Orla Guerin, reportage from the scene, saw Ukrainian troops classified by the wayside close to town, inspecting the spoils of war with broad smiles.
She delineated passing abandoned Russian tanks on the method, with several shelled and blackened buildings.
“The town is while not running water, electricity or heat,” she says.
“The dead area unit still being counted here, however native officers saw forty seven folks – kids among them – killed in associate degree air strike on a five-story block of flats back in March.”
Read Orla’s full report here.
Mercenary chief seen recruiting Russian convicts
The speed of the Ukrainian counter-offensive has exposed once more however thinly unfold Russia’s occupying forces area unit.
In the Kremlin’s military adventures, each in Ukrayina and additional abroad, regular troops have typically been bolstered by members of the shadowy Wagner mercenary cluster.
Now the group’s founder, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, has appeared in leaked footage making an attempt to recruit prisoners to fight in Ukrayina.
In the footage, verified by the BBC, he will be seen addressing an outsized cluster of detainees, apparently confirming long-running speculation that Russia hopes to spice up its forces by recruiting convicts.
Mr Prigozhin told prisoners their sentences would be commuted in exchange for service along with his cluster.
While Russian law doesn’t permit commutation of jail sentences in exchange for mercenary service, adult male Prigozhin insisted that “nobody goes back behind bars” if they serve along with his cluster.
On Th evening he looked as if it would defend the thought of causing prisoners to the frontline. in a very statement on his company’s social media feed he addressed people who were uncomfortable with the thought, speech it’s “either prisoners or your kids – you decide”.
Putin reveals China’s ‘concern’ over Ukrayina
While the pressure mounts on the Kremlin once Russia’s military setbacks, President Vladimir Putin has left the country for what’s solely his second foray abroad since February’s invasion.
During a visit to Asian nation for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, he control face-to-face talks along with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
Mr solon acknowledged China’s “concern” over Ukrayina however conjointly thanked China for its “balanced position”, and aforementioned U.S.A. “attempts to make a unipolar world” would fail.
Mr Xi aforementioned China was willing to figure along with Russia as “great powers”.
China has not supported Russia’s invasion, however has reinforced trade and alternative ties with Russian capital since it had been launched.
Houses flooded once missiles hit major dam
Officials in Kryvyy Rih in central Ukrayina aforementioned town was hit by another Russian missile on Th.
The latest attack came each day once a close-by dam was broken in a very missile strike, flooding homes and going away residents to be exhausted.
Kryvyy Rih is that the town of Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, associate degreed there has been speculation that the attack was applied as an act of revenge, thanks to Ukraine’s sure-fire recent counter-offensive within the country’s north-eastern city region.
Thursday’s missile strike was on what was delineated as associate degree “industrial enterprise”. the pinnacle of the native military administration aforementioned it had caused serious injury.
After the sooner attack on the Karachunivske reservoir, President Zelensky delineated Russia as a “terrorist state”.
Moscow has not publically commented on the according missile strikes.
Who is winning the war in Ukraine?
Ukrainian forces have created speedy gains in recent days, recovery massive areas from Russia.
In a decisive offensive within the north-east that began earlier this month, Ukrayina drove back Russian forces. It claims to own retaken over eight,000 sq kilometer (3,088 sq miles) from Russian management in September – its most important territorial gains since the war started.
But the struggle isn’t over nevertheless. Russia says it’s regrouping – and its forces still hold a few fifth of the country.
So WHO is winning the war? browse our latest analysis here.
Ukraine war: within the recaptured town of Izyum
On Monday, President Zelensky raised the Ukrainian flag within the recently-liberated town of Izyum. The BBC visited shortly later to seek out a town interrupt from power and water, however eased at the arrival of Ukrainian troops.
The nearer you get to Izyum, the additional proof there’s of Russia’s speedy retreat.
Ukrainian troopers area unit classified by the wayside close to town, inspecting the spoils of war with broad smiles.
There area unit 2 abandoned Russian tanks – the Ukrainian flag already planted on one amongst them. Troops hug in celebration as they struggle to use one tank to tow the opposite out of a ditch.
Just within town another abandoned tank sits within the middle of the road – sort of a monument to Russia’s defeat. a neighborhood man poses before of it for a selfie, giving the tank a thumbs down.
Two girls emerge from a automobile with one or two of little luggage, as well as some groceries. Larissa, 61, and her friend Victoria, area unit returning to town for the primary time.
Larissa says they left at the start of the war and area unit happy to be back. however true is sophisticated, as her target town centre was broken. once chatting with U.S.A. they set out on foot to remain with friends.
Touring town, we tend to see several shelled and blackened buildings. Across the road from the broken council building, a couple of dozen folks sub a quiet queue within the afternoon rain anticipating aid, as well as jars of pickles, dried product and drinking water.
The city is while not running water, electricity or heat.
The dead area unit still being counted here however native officers saw forty seven folks – kids among them – killed in associate degree airstrike on a five-story block of flats back in March. The attack left a opened hole within the middle of the building.
At the building nowadays, we’ve got a transparent read into a number of the residences. A TV sits on a table in a very top-floor flat. a couple of floors below, garments still droop showing neatness within the wardrobe, as if their owner may wear them once more. 3 smiling girls stare out of a photograph in a very little album lying within the trash.
