Russia-Ukraine war
- Russia says its air defence systems destroyed 12 Ukraine-launched missiles over the Belgorod region along the border.
- The regional governor says the situation “continues to remain tense” in Belgorod where 25 civilians were killed on Saturday, according to Russia.
- Poland says the West should tighten sanctions against Russia and provide Kyiv with long-range missiles.
- The UN high commissioner for human rights calls on Russia and Ukraine to exercise restraint in view of the recent mutual attacks involving civilian casualties.
Russia accuses OSCE of double standards
The permanent mission of the Russian Federation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has published a statement on its Telegram channel, accusing the organisation of biased assessments regarding the war in Ukraine.
The remarks came after the OSCE issued a statement condemning the “continuing and intensifying aerial attacks by Russia in its war against Ukraine”.
The Russian permanent mission to the OSCE said they issued this statement without condemning the “barbaric missile attacks in Belgorod”, which resulted in dozens of civilian deaths, including children.
Poland says West should give Ukraine long-range missiles
The West should tighten sanctions against Russia and provide Kyiv with long-range missiles in response to Moscow’s latest shelling of Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Wednesday.
“We should respond to the latest onslaught on Ukraine in language that Putin understands: By tightening sanctions so that he cannot make new weapons with smuggled components and by giving Kyiv long range missiles that will enable it to take out launch sites and command centers,” Sikorski wrote on X.
Russia says missiles, drones launched from Ukraine
Russia says 12 missiles and several drones were launched from Ukraine in the early hours of Wednesday on the southern region of Belgorod, Russia’s defence ministry and local authorities said.
Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the situation “continues to remain tense” in Belgorod, where Russia says 25 civilians including five children were killed in Ukrainian attacks on Saturday.
There was no word of any casualties from the latest attacks. Gladkov said the extent of damage would be assessed throughout the day.
List of key events on day 679 of the war
- Russia targeted Ukraine’s biggest cities with a barrage of drones, rockets and missiles, killing at least four people in Kyiv and one in Kharkiv. The State Emergency Service said 119 people have been injured.
- Russian attacks drew condemnation from across Europe. Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, reiterated the EU’s support for Ukraine, saying Russia’s air attacks showed Moscow was not interested in peace talks.
- Norway said it would allow the direct sale of weapons to Ukraine. “In the extraordinary security situation resulting from Russia’s war of aggression, it is crucial that we continue to support Ukraine,” Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said.