Russian night-time strikes killed eight people, including two children, and injured 18 in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region, the interior ministry said.

Dnipro

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Russian strikes during the night resulted in eight fatalities, including two children, and injured 18 in the central Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine, according to the country's interior ministry. The aerial bombardment targeted residential areas in Dnipro, where survivors described their terror and confusion in the aftermath of the assault. The destruction included buildings with their roofs torn off, highlighting the severity of the strikes.

The Ukrainian government has expressed concerns over an increase in Russian military aggression as a significant date approaches. May 9th, which marks the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in World War II, is seen as a potential incentive for Russia to intensify its efforts. Kiev has noted a surge in military production by Russia, including tanks and flamethrowers, amid warmer weather conditions that facilitate increased military operations.

The situation has prompted Kiev to seek further support from its Western allies. Ukrainian officials have outlined specific steps they hope these partners will take to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities. The ongoing debate in Washington over the United States' future role in the conflict, with President Joe Biden advocating for continued support while facing division among Republicans, underscores the international dimension of the crisis. Ukraine's plea for aid comes at a critical juncture, with global implications for how the conflict and Ukraine's resistance are supported moving forward.



Ukraine says eight killed in Russian strikes

Smoke billows from residential buildings, their roofs ripped off from the latest Russian airstrikes. Residents of Dnipro woken in the early hours of Friday to deadly blasts. I did not know what was happening right away. I looked. The first thing I saw was a burning mosquito net on the window of the balcony. I did not understand. Then when I looked through a net burning in the yard, I realised that something had flown towards us and I went outside to check. Kiev says Russia is ramping up attacks ahead of May 9th, the symbolic date when the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany in World War II, with ambitions to take the strategic town of Chesiv Yar before the milestone. The push means an increase in the production of tanks and flamethrowers. The production of new engines of higher power has begun and the production of heavy water systems has begun. As the warmer weather has allowed Moscow to ramp up attacks, Kiev is calling on its allies to continue supporting its plight. And we identified specific steps which Western partners will make to help Ukraine under these circumstances. I think the narrative that the West has to choose between supporting Israel or Ukraine is wrong because these are two theatres of the same war. Washington will vote this weekend on its future role in the conflict and while Joe Biden has supported continued aid to Ukraine, Republicans are divided, potentially cutting off a crucial line of support.

The US State Department accused Russia of having used a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, while also announcing fresh sanctions against Moscow. In addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin, Russia also used "riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC," the department said in a factsheet.

Zaporizhzhia

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Israel-Gaza War

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Odesa

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Ukraine Invasion