Ukraine-Russia newest: Putin hails ‘courageous’ Trump after election win as Zelensky rejects ‘nonsense’ ceasefire | EUROtoday

Early this morning, Russian forces struck the Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv, with a guided KAB aerial bomb severely damaging a 12-storey residential constructing within the Saltivskyi district and injuring a minimum of 25 folks.

The blast prompted a hearth, destroyed a number of flooring, and left residents trapped, based on Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov. Search and rescue groups are working to find anybody nonetheless beneath the rubble.

Five of the injured had been taken to hospital, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. The assault, launched from Russian-controlled Donetsk Oblast, additionally broken close by buildings, metro entrances, and automobiles.

A separate strike focused Kharkiv’s metropolis centre, hitting administrative and historic buildings in addition to residential areas. Another hit impacted a close-by neighbourhood, damaging retailers, multistorey buildings, and automobiles. Fortunately, no casualties had been reported in these extra assaults, Mr Syniehubov confirmed.

Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Russia has reportedly misplaced 705,880 troops, based on knowledge shared by Ukraine’s Armed Forces on its Facebook web page. This tally consists of 1,580 troopers killed throughout the final 24 hours alone.

In addition to personnel losses, Ukraine’s General Staff studies that Russia has sustained heavy tools losses, itemizing 9,233 tanks, 18,661 armoured combating automobiles, 28,495 transport and gasoline automobiles, and 20,226 artillery techniques. Russian forces have additionally misplaced 1,245 a number of launch rocket techniques, 996 air defence techniques, 369 plane, 329 helicopters, and 18,526 drones, together with 28 naval vessels and a single submarine.

Russian forces performed a large-scale drone assault on Ukraine’s southern Odesa Oblast early this morning, leaving one particular person lifeless and injuring a minimum of 9 others, reported Kyiv Independent, citing native officers.

The assault prompted important harm to residential buildings, with Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirming casualties. Odesa’s regional governor, Oleh Kiper, reported that shockwaves shattered home windows at a metropolis college, whereas shrapnel punctured and ignited two gasoline pipelines in one other district, heightening the chance to close by areas.

South Korean overseas minister Cho Tae Yul stated earlier this week that every one choices had been on the desk, however consultants famous that Seoul was extra more likely to ship a wide range of navy help in need of troopers.

The alleged presence of round 12,000 North Korean troops in Russia, reportedly beneath a defence treaty that Russian president Vladimir Putin signed with Korean chief Kim Jong Un earlier this yr, has set off alarm bells on the Korean peninsula.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election within the US, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has referred to as on the European Union to take extra responsibilty for it’s defence and for help of Ukraine.

EU officers have reportedly expressed concern privately {that a} second Trump administration may see the US withdraw a minimum of a few of it’s help from the continent.

The Pentagon has responded to claims that North Korean troops despatched to Russia to bolster Vladimir Putin’s forces are consuming on-line pornography as they now have much less restricted web entry.

US division of defence spokesperson Major Charlie Dietz stated he couldn’t confirm “any North Korean internet habits or virtual ‘extracurriculars’” going down in Russia.

He continued: “As for internet access, that’s a question best directed to Moscow. Right now, our attention remains on supporting Ukraine and addressing the more significant regional security concerns”.

Sir Keir Starmer stated allies should “step up” help for Ukraine, as he met the nation’s president amid uncertainty about the way forward for US backing for Kyiv after Donald Trump’s election victory.

The prime minister advised Volodymyr Zelensky the UK had an “unwavering” dedication to assist the nation defend itself towards Russia’s invasion throughout bilateral talks at a European Political Community summit in Hungary.

Sir Keir additionally stated the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia was “proof of Putin’s increasing desperation” and that the UK would stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes for Russia to withdraw”.

The gathering of European leaders on Thursday was largely overshadowed by Mr Trump’s historic win on the US polls which places him on the right track for a second time period within the White House.

But figures together with Sir Keir used the summit to insist worldwide companions “see this through” and strengthen their resolve to supply continued help for Ukraine.

European international locations must ship a transparent message to the United States and the incoming Trump administration that they may help Ukraine as a lot as wanted, Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated on Thursday.

“Our message needs to be clear and strong,” Orpo advised reporters forward of a gathering of European leaders in Budapest.

Orpo added that Ukraine was combating for a “model” that included membership of the European Union and NATO. Finland, which is an EU member, joined NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.