Ukraine’s emergency services have released these heartbreaking scenes of the devastation at the shopping centre in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk after it was hit in a Russian missile strike.
The Russian missile strike – which has made headlines around the world – has been described by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as one of the “most brazen terrorist acts in European history”. Over 1,000 people are said to have been inside the building when it was hit by missiles.
Nearly 20 dead had been reported at the time of writing, with the number expected to climb as rescuers sift through debris.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 125th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 28th June, Russia had lost about 35,250 personnel, 1,567 tanks, 3,704 armoured combat vehicles, 778 artillery units, 243 multiple launch rocket systems, 102 air defence systems, 217 warplanes, 185 helicopters, 636 drones, 139 cruise missiles, 14 warships, 2,589 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 61 units of special equipment.
At least 14 missiles hit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as G7 leaders met in Bavaria, in Germany, at the beginning of a three-day summit. Military support for Ukraine is at the top of the agenda. The G7 is made up of Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. G7 leaders described the shopping mall missile strike as “abominable”.
NATO is planning to boost its quick reaction forces from 40,000 troops to over 300,000 troops. World leaders are set to approve plans to increase the number of NATO troops on high alert at a summit in Madrid.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is meeting Finland’s Sauli Niinisto and Magdalena Andersson of Sweden at the NATO summit in Madrid to try to resolve their issues.
Russian missiles have also hit the central city of Cherkasy, as well as the strategically vital port city of Odesa.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the G7 leaders and said that he wanted the war to end before the end of the year. He repeated his request for anti-aircraft defence systems, as well as further sanctions on Russia. He also repeated his request for help to export grain from Ukraine.
The eastern Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk is now in Russian hands after Ukrainian troops were ordered to retreat following weeks of siege.
The United Kingdom and the United States, as well as Japan and Canada, are banning imports of Russian gold. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the ban will “strike at the heart of Putin’s war machine”.
Russian troops have been accused of pillaging vast quantities of grain from farmers in occupied areas of Ukraine, as well as other crops including sunflower seeds. They have also been accused of stealing fertiliser and agricultural equipment.
More than 345 million people around the world are facing “acute levels of food insecurity” as the war in Ukraine heads into a fifth month, says the World Food Programme (WFP).
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a knock-on effect on the cost of living around the world.
T4/Newsflash
