8:31 AM BST 8:31 AM
Six people died in rocket attacks on Lviv – the regional governor
Six people were killed and eight were injured in rocket attacks on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv this morning, District Governor Maxim Kozistki said.
Reuters reports that he said three missiles hit military infrastructure while one hit a tire changer.
The RIA agency carries a series of claims from the Russian military. They say:
- The artillery struck 18 command posts in Ukraine during the night.
- Russian troops killed 16 Ukrainian troops overnight.
- The Russian Air Force destroyed eight Ukrainian armored vehicles and a company of manpower.
- Russia’s air defenses shot down three Ukrainian planes and 11 drones.
Russia’s state news agency Tass has issued a statement to the Russian Defense Ministry saying that Russian forces have hit a total of 315 Ukrainian targets overnight. They say it has destroyed four weapons and military equipment depots in Ukraine with Iskander missiles.
None of the allegations have been independently verified.
Updated at 8.40 BST
8:03 AM BST 8:03 AM
Lesya Vasylenko, a lawyer and Ukrainian MP, tweeted this unverified image of damage in Lviv. She says it was caused by Russian missiles aimed at the train station and warehouses.
Lesya Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko)
#Lvov an hour ago. At least 5 #Russia missiles hit the western city. The station and the warehouse units were shelled. pic.twitter.com/rzMEbcs70z
April 18, 2022
Updated at 8.25 BST
7:56 AM BST 7:56 AM
So far
- Unconfirmed reports filter that five rockets hit Lviv early this morning. “Five targeted missile strikes on Lviv,” Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovi said in an update to his official Telegram account this morning, adding that authorities were looking for more detailed information.
- Ukraine has promised that its forces will “fight to the end” in the besieged port city of Mariupol after Russia’s ultimatum to surrender other Ukrainian troops expires.
- Russian troops have said they will close the city for entry and exit on Monday and issue “traffic passes” to those who remain, according to an adviser to the mayor.
- Residents of Luhansk Oblast in eastern Ukraine have been urged to evacuate immediately. The head of the regional military administration, Sergei Gaidai, said the “decision is yours”, but warned that the cemetery was “increasing with each passing day” in a statement late Sunday.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for more weapons, describing “any delay” as “allowing Russia to take the lives of Ukrainians”. In his latest address, he called on the countries to send arms, saying Ukraine’s fate “depends on them”.
- Zelensky also claimed in the address that the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions in southern Ukraine are being transferred to the “ruble zone” and are subordinated to the Russian administration. The Ukrainian president said that Russia’s actions in the territories follow the example of the self-proclaimed republics DNR and LNR.
- Ukraine has completed a questionnaire that will be a starting point for the European Union to decide on its membership. “Today I can say that the document was completed by the Ukrainian side,” Igor Zhovkva, deputy head of President Vladimir Zelensky’s cabinet, told Ukrainian public television on Sunday night. “We expect the recommendation … to be positive and then the ball will be on the side of the EU member states.
- A second British soldier fighting the Ukrainian army was shown on Russian television after being captured in Mariupol. Sean Pinner, 48, said he was fighting alongside Ukrainian Marines when Vladimir Putin’s troops invaded nearly eight weeks ago.
- A new series of Russian airstrikes came as a reminder this weekend that the war in the Ukrainian capital is far from over, despite signs of a more normal life returning to the streets in recent days.
- An unverified photo that allegedly shows the Russian warship “Moscow” moments after it was reported that it was hit by a Ukrainian rocket “Neptune” has appeared online. The source of the image is unclear and the Guardian was unable to verify its authenticity immediately.
- Zelensky said he had invited French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Ukraine to see personal evidence that Russian forces had committed “genocide,” a term Macron avoids using.
- Earlier on Sunday, Zelensky called on US President Joe Biden to visit Ukraine and reiterated that he did not want to cede territory in the east of the country to end the war with Russia. Zelenski said he “hopes” Biden will make the trip.
- The President of the European Commission called on the Member States to deliver weapons systems to Ukraine “quickly” and suggested that the next round of EU sanctions could be directed against the powerful Russian Sberbank.
- The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, said she had a “very good conversation” with the President of Ukraine. She added: “Continued economic support from Ukraine’s partners is essential for laying the foundations for the recovery of a modern and competitive Ukraine.
- The UN refugee agency said 4,869,019 Ukrainians had fled the country since Russia’s invasion in February, up 32,574 from Saturday’s total, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Sunday.
- Oleg Sinegubov, head of the Kharkiv regional administration, said Ukrainian forces were successfully pushing the Russians back east of the city and that several villages had been liberated.
- At least two people were killed and four were injured in the shelling of the eastern Ukrainian city of Zolote on Sunday, the local governor said.
- Zelensky said Ukraine did not want to give up territory to end the war with Russia, and acknowledged that the battle could affect the entire course of the war.
That’s all from me, Samantha Locke, for today. I will now turn you over to my colleague Martin Bellam.
Updated at 8.08 BST
7:42 AM BST 7:42 AM
More details are coming out of Lviv this morning.
CNN correspondent Jim Scuto shared a photo that allegedly shows smoke rising on the city’s skyline.
“Five missile strikes on Lviv this morning. “Visible smoke rising over the city,” he tweeted.
Fox reporter James Levinson added: “Black smoke seen from station 4, reported rocket attacks on Lviv station, no casualties or damage yet. I hear air raid sirens and an ambulance in the background.
Olga Lautman 🇺🇦 (@ OlgaNYC1211)
5 missile strikes on Lviv with smoke rising from several places. No details yet on what is targeted or how many victims pic.twitter.com/Q0ifaBELxc
April 18, 2022 Alexander Bunin (@abunin)
💥 Lviv. Despite filming bans, locals have posted videos of rocket attacks hitting foreign military instructors. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy announces five missile strikes pic.twitter.com/svBkC4vER7
April 18, 2022 Jim Jutto (@jimsciutto)
Five missile strikes on Lviv this morning. Smoke rising over the city. pic.twitter.com/WHSa3eSRzd
April 18, 2022 James Levinson (@james_levinson)
UNDERSTANDING: Black smoke is visible from the station. 4 reported rocket attacks on Lviv station, no casualties or damage have been reported yet. Air raid sirens and ambulance are heard in the background pic.twitter.com/EN04bhTolv
April 18, 2022
Updated at 8:26 BST
7:33 AM BST 7:33 AM
The head of Lviv’s regional military administration, Maxim Kozitsky, called on residents to seek shelter amid reports of missile strikes in the region.
“The air alarm continues. Stay in the shelters, “Kozicki said in a Telegram post at around 8:30 a.m. this morning.
Updated at 8.27 BST
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