The Russian invasion of Ukraine is escalating, with the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions being the focus of heavy Russian bombardment for the last 24 hours.
In Donetskthree people lost their lives and eight were injured by Russian blows, as announced – via Telegram – the regional governor Pavlo Kirilenko.
In KharkovAccording to the latest official report from the Ukrainian authorities, 8 people were killed and 19 were injured in yesterday’s bombings. Among the dead is a 13-year-old child, and among the injured are two children aged 4 and 9.
The regional governor, Olekh Shinegubov, complained that Russian forces had scattered mines in the greater Kharkiv region and called on citizens to be especially vigilant.
In Mariupol, the port came under Russian occupation, according to the Ria Novosti network, citing pro-Russian separatist sources.
The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, however, said that “the defense of Mariupol continues” while the Ukrainian army announced that it was preparing for a final battle in the city, as ammunition is now running out.
Meanwhile, the information circulating in the last hours is causing concern in the international community on the use of chemical weapons in the besieged Mariupol.
Earlier in the day, the far-right Azov Battalion in Ukraine reported that an unknown substance had been dropped by a remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle in the city, leaving many people with respiratory problems and poor coordination.
From his side, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskysaid the Russian armed forces could use chemical weapons, but did not confirm whether they have been used so far.
However, he called on the West to impose strong sanctions on Moscow that would prevent even discussions on the use of such weapons.
Referring to Mariupol, he stressed that his country does not have the weapons needed to release her. “If we had fighter jets and enough heavy armor, the necessary artillery, we would be able to do it,” he said.
