Ukraine war: Kherson counter-offensive, Kharkiv shelled again, and visa ban proves divisive

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Germany Eu Brazil Russia Ukraine Pakistan city Kherson region Kharkiv European Union Climate change

30.08.2022 - 18:25

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euronews.com:

Ukrainian forces claimed to have 'broken through' Russian defences on Monday amid a new counter-offensive in the Kherson region.

The operation, launched yesterday, is aimed at pushing Russian troops back across the Dnipro river and retaking the occupied city of Kherson.

Intense battles are currently raging between Ukrainian and Russian forces across almost all of the southern region, according to the Ukrainian presidency.

Ukrainian forces broke through Russia's first line of defence on the outskirts of Kherson, capturing an industrial site reportedly being used as an army base, Ukrainian local media reported on Monday.

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At least five people were killed and seven others injured on Tuesday in Russian bombings targetting the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

The centre of Ukraine's second largest city was hit in the attack, the mayor and regional governor announced.

"The Russian occupiers have bombed the central districts of Kharkiv," said Oleg Synegubov on Telegram, adding that there was "damage."

An initial death toll of four dead and four wounded was revised this morning as regional authorities called on residents to take shelter. The mayor of Kharkiv, Igor Terekhov, reported on Telegram that there were at least five dead and seven injured in the bombardment.

The second largest city in Ukraine, with nearly 1.4 million inhabitants before the war, Kharkiv is regularly bombarded by Russian forces, yet they have not been able to seize it from Ukraine.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the Kharkiv region since the start of the war, with many fleeing elsewhere in Ukraine or to neighbouring countries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Russian soldiers to flee for their lives after his forces launched an