Russian airstrikes on several cities across Ukraine

In addition to the capital Kiev, Russia has also targeted the Black Sea port cities of Odessa and Kharkiv in fresh missile attacks, Ukrainian officials said. Besides Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia and Ryune in the west, the cities of Dnipro and Poltava in central Ukraine have also been attacked by missiles. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the attacks.

Odesa Governor Maxim Marshenko said the large-scale Russian missile attacks damaged the city’s electricity supply facilities and suspended power supply. He said that residential areas have also been targeted.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescue workers rushed to the blast in the southwest part of the city. Electricity was also cut off in some areas. “There were about 15 attacks in the city and its surrounding area, which damaged important installations and infrastructure,” said Oleg Sangiubov, head of Kharkiv’s regional administration. Many residential buildings have also been targeted.

Another Ukrainian official said that after the Russian attack, the power supply at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant was cut and diesel generators were being operated there.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message late Wednesday that the ongoing war in the regions around Bakhmut and Donbass is his “top priority.” Oleh Zadanov, a Ukrainian military analyst, said the Russian army had captured the Zabakhamtka district in the eastern suburbs of Bakhmut, as well as the northern Ilinivka district.

“The situation is critical,” he said in a video commentary, adding that the Russian army had strengthened its grip on the outskirts of Swatovo in the north, as well as Odevika, south of Bakhmut.

European Union member states agreed on Wednesday to speed up supplies of artillery shells and buy more shells to help Ukraine. However, these countries have not yet decided what needs to be done to turn these goals into reality.

Under a plan drawn up by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, EU member states will be given €1 billion to help Ukraine send more artillery shells, while another €1 billion will be jointly purchased for new shells. will be provided for.

Borrell said after a meeting of defense ministers of EU member states in Stockholm that a general agreement had been reached but the details could not be finalized yet. He said that every issue should be discussed in detail. Borrell expressed hope that the plan would be finalized at a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers on March 20.