Ukraine: Russian missiles hit a refinery in Kremenchuk

The Ukrainian industrial city of Kremenchuk (central) was bombed by Russian military missiles, local military officials said.

Among the targets hit was a refinery, the commander of Ukrainian forces in the region, Dmitry Lunin, was quoted as saying by UNIAN news agency.

He spoke of the biggest attack on the city since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began two and a half months ago. He assured, however, that no injuries were reported.

“A fire broke out” and the fire brigade was deployed, according to the commander, who referred to at least 12 rockets of unknown type.

This information cannot be independently verified.

Russia is stepping up its attack on eastern Ukraine

Russia’s armed forces are stepping up their attacks in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine’s general staff said on Thursday, acknowledging some territorial gains.

The protection of the self-proclaimed People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine was among the reasons cited by the Kremlin when it invaded Ukraine on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized them as autonomous state entities, angering Kyiv.

“The enemy continues its attacks in the eastern zone of operations in order to take full control of the Danetsk, Lugansk and Kherson regions and to maintain the land corridor to the temporarily occupied Crimea,” the Ukrainian staff said.

According to the report, the Russian attacks are concentrated in the cities of Sheverodonietsk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdivka and Kurakhova, as well as in Rubizne, most of which are now occupied by Russian troops.

The Ukrainian General Staff assured that its forces destroyed floating bridges built by Russian forces to reach the port along the Siversky Donetsk River.

At the same time, Russian forces are being reinforced on the front around the city of Slovyansk. About 300 Russian military vehicles were deployed there, according to Ukrainian officials.

At least five civilians were killed in the fighting in Danieck

At least five civilians were killed during heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Danetsk region, Ukrainian sources said on Thursday.

The regional government spoke through the Telegram platform about four dead in the cities of Novoselifka, Avdivka and Liman. Another civilian was killed in Yasunavata, a city controlled by pro-Russian separatists, media reported.

This information cannot be independently verified.

According to the UN, the number of civilians who have lost their lives since the start of the war on February 24 has reached at least 3,500. However, the Agency anticipates that in reality, the death toll among civilians is much higher.

Talks on removing besieged Ukrainian troops from Azovstal

At the same time, the Ukrainian government announced that it has started a new round of talks aimed at rescuing soldiers trapped in the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol.

“We have started a new round of negotiations,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Verestsuk was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian newspaper Prada.

According to her, the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross have been instructed to negotiate with the Russian side, while Turkey has taken on a mediating role.

“We would like an agreement to be signed on how to proceed with their removal from Azofstal – we are ready to sign it,” Verestsuk said.

The purpose is to evacuate in stages, he explained. The first priority is to rescue 38 soldiers who have been seriously injured, he added.

“After that,” we will make further moves, “he promised, saying Kyiv was ready to exchange Russian prisoners of war with the wounded.

So far, Russia has refused to allow the removal of any troops at the giant Mariupol plant, demanding that Ukrainians and foreign mercenaries surrender.

German reservation on the supply of Ukraine with Western aircraft

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Alena Berbock expressed reservations about Ukraine’s demand for Western fighter jets ahead of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers at the Weissenhauser Strand resort in the north.

Ms. Burbok recalled the rejection by Western powers of Ukraine’s request for a NATO no-fly zone, adding that “we also took a clear position” on the supply of fighter jets.

The German Foreign Minister also said that during her visit to Kyiv on Tuesday she discussed “how we can support Ukraine”, especially “its resilience and its ability to defend itself”, but without “NATO getting involved in this war”. .

Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba, who has been invited to attend today’s meeting of the G7 foreign ministers, asked a few days ago to offer his country advanced fighter jets and missile and air defense systems.