Ukraine denounced “unprecedented” Russian airstrikes against kyiv and other cities on Thursday morning, one day after reaching an agreement with Moscow to extend the pact that allows you to export grain through the Black Sea.
“The series of airstrikes against kyiv continues, unprecedented in its power, intensity and variety”, declared Sergi Popkohead of kyiv’s civil and military administration.
In the port city of Odessa, one person died and two were injured when a missile hit a industry infrastructure, the armed forces indicated.
The Ukrainian army reported several explosions in the district Desnyanskyfrom kyiv, and a fire in a shop in the capital’s neighborhood of Karnytskyi.
The military authorities recorded attacks with “cruise missiles” in the Vinnytsia regionin the center of the country, and the press reported explosions in Khmelnytskyiabout 100 km further west.
A day before these explosions, Russia and Ukraine agreed to extend their agreement for the export of Ukrainian grains, a rare example of cooperation in the midst of the conflict.
However, doubts arose about its feasibility after the russian attacks this Thursday against kyiv and other cities.
Air defense
The grain deal came after the Ukrainian foreign minister met with a sent from chinabefore which he insisted that kyiv would not accept a peace plan that involves giving up territory.
China has never publicly condemned the Russian invasion, and its envoy Li Hui seeks to promote negotiations led by Beijing to resolve the conflict.
The Ukrainian minister Dmytro Kulebaexplained to the Chinese envoy “the principles for the restoration of a lasting and just peace, founded on respect for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” a ministerial statement said.
kyiv has received Western weapons since the start of the conflict, including Patriot missile systems to ward off Russian airstrikes against civilians and infrastructure.
Ukrainian air defense has been key in protecting the country from bombing and preventing Moscow’s forces from taking air control of the conflict.
But Russia, after suffering setbacks on the ground, began launching airstrikes that have left millions of people without electricity, water and heat.
Ukrainian ports
The barn deal was announced by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoganwho mediated the understanding to extend grain exports from two Ukrainian ports for two months without Russia blocking it.
“These agreements are important for global food security; Ukrainian and Russian products feed the world”, said the UN Secretary General, Anthony Guterres.
Russia has threatened to withdraw from the agreement, insisting on Wednesday that it presents “disparities” in its application.
kyiv accused Russia of continuing to blockad its ships by refusing to register them and conduct lengthy inspections.
On the ground, fighting continues for control of the eastern city of Bakhmut.
Ukraine seeks to recapture occupied territories by Russian forces after the February 2022 invasion.
the battle for Bakhmut it has become the longest of the war. Ukraine assures that it has advanced in the area, recovering Russian positions in the suburbs.
In a sign of the cost of the conflict to the Russian economy, the statistics agency Rosstat indicated on Wednesday that the country’s GDP contracted 1.9% in the first quarter of 2023.
The economy was hit by a new wave of western sanctionsincluding the prohibition of European Union to import Russian oil products plus a price cap agreed with the G7 and Australia.
(With information from AFP)
Keep reading:
At least three dead after a Russian attack in the Ukrainian region of Kherson, including a child
Pope Francis insisted on his call for peace in Ukraine: “Let us pray for the wounded, for those who have died”
How Ukraine overturned the air battle against Russia and manages to repel the barrage of missiles that Putin launches on kyiv
Source-www.infobae.com