World (Times Of Ocean)- Volodymyr Zelenskyy has promised not to give up territory in the east of Ukraine to end the war with Russia.
Six people were killed in missile strikes on Ukraine’s western city of Lviv, according to a regional governor.
Despite the Russian surrender deadline’s passing, Ukrainian forces in Mariupol remain defiant.
As part of overnight attacks across several regions, Russia says it struck hundreds of Ukrainian military targets.
Ukraine: Russia completed regrouping of troops to launch offensive in east
A Ukrainian defense ministry spokesperson said on Monday that Russian troops have completed the necessary preparations to launch an offensive in eastern Ukraine.
“Russian units are strengthening the offensive group. The most intense fighting is taking place in Slobozhansky and Donetsk,” Col. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said during a news conference.
“(Russia) is preparing for an offensive in eastern Ukraine to seize control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and ensure the stability” of the land corridor with Crimea, Motuzyanyk said.
Ukraine reports intense bombardment in east and confirms the retreat from Kreminna
Ukrainian officials say that Russian forces bombarded Kharkiv and Luhansk on Monday, acknowledging retreats from some towns but claiming success in repelling others.
Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, said on Ukrainian television that the city is constantly bombarded. He accused the Russians of bombing residential areas with crowds of people. Today in Kharkiv there were hits. People are wounded and dead. Several hospitals and the city’s perinatal center have also been damaged.”
Russia claims it shot down two Ukrainian jets
Russian air forces claimed on Sunday they shot down two Ukrainian MIG-29 jets over Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
According to Russia’s Defense Minister Igor Konashenkov, Russian forces also destroyed fuel and ammunition depots in the Barvenkovo and Dobropolye regions with high-precision air-to-surface missiles.
Since the start of what Russia calls “a special military operation” on Feb. 24, 136 warplanes, 471 unmanned aerial vehicles, 249 air defense systems, 2,308 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 254 multiple missile launcher systems, 998 artillery systems and mortars, as well as 2,171 special military cars have been destroyed, he noted.
According to UN estimates, at least 1,982 civilians have been killed and 2,651 injured in Ukraine so far, although the true figure may be higher.
UNHCR says 4.8 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with over 7 million more internally displaced.
Up to 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in war, says Zelenskyy
Ukraine’s president estimates that up to 3,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed since the war began in late February.
“In terms of our military, we believe we lost 2,500 to 3,000 members, compared to the Russian military, which suffered losses of 19 (thousand) to 20,000,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with CNN on Friday.
Zelenskyy added that nearly 10,000 others have been injured in the war, and “it is not clear how many will survive.”
However, Russia said it lost 1,351 soldiers during the war.
918 populated areas were liberated from Russian forces
Late Friday, Ukraine announced that 918 populated areas had been liberated from Russian forces.
“We are resuming regular and emergency medical care, as well as educational works – where it is possible,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address.
Ukraine claims to have downed more Russian attack helicopters
Early Monday, Ukraine claimed that its air defense forces shot down more Russian attack helicopters.
Russian forces, which continue to bomb Ukrainian cities and kill civilians, have suffered severe losses, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement.
“In the last 24 hours, apart from a KA-52 helicopter, we also downed two Mi-24 attack helicopters, one plane, and one Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicle,” the statement said.
Turkish president, UN chief discuss Russia-Ukraine war
On Sunday, the Turkish president and UN chief discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War and recent tensions in Jerusalem.
“We spoke by phone with UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, about regional developments, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Ukraine-Russia war,” said Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Twitter.
Erdogan also stressed the importance of the Istanbul process for the Russia-Ukraine peace talks and efforts to settle disagreements between the two sides.
Boris Johnson is scheduled to visit India next week amid Russia Ukraine War
Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to visit India this week, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Boris Johnson will travel to India at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the leaders will hold bilateral consultations as part of the two-day trip.
The visit of Johnson comes as India’s stance on the Ukraine war has sparked a flurry of visits from dignitaries around the world.
Spain will reopen its embassy in Kyiv “in the coming days
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Monday that his country will reopen its embassy in Kyiv “in the coming days.” Spain becomes the latest country to send its diplomats back to Kyiv.
The Slovenian Foreign Ministry reports that the country’s embassy in Kyiv has also been reopened since March 28.