Ukraine-Russia latest: Putin bombs Kharkiv supermarket as UN ‘concerned’ by North Korean forces

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “deeply concerned” by reports of North Korean troops on Russian soil and fears “an escalation of the war in Ukraine”, a spokesman said.

Mr Guterres’ remarks came as American intelligence confirmed thousands of North Korean troops were on their way to Russia’s Kursk border region where the Ukrainian offensive is underway.

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about reports of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea being sent to the Russian Federation, including possible deployment to conflict zones,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief.

Ukraine is now facing “one of the most powerful Russian attacks” since the start of the war in February 2022, the army chief warned.

Russia continues to make gains in the Donbas region and capture villages amid reports that North Korea has sent around 10,000 troops to join Vladimir Putin’s war effort.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, said the situation on the front line “remains difficult” and that certain areas “require renewal of the resources of Ukrainian units”.

“Ukraine’s Armed Forces held back one of the most powerful Russian attacks from launching a full-scale invasion,” its top commander said over the weekend.

The war is entering what Russian analysts say is its most dangerous phase as Moscow forces advance, North Korea sends troops to Russia and the West wonders how the conflict will end.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been traveling the world lobbying NATO countries to allow Kyiv to use long-range missiles provided to them to strike targets inside Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Western allies to provide “long-range capabilities for our security” as Russia continues to fire missiles at the country’s biggest cities.

Zelensky wrote on social media yesterday that “Russia terrorized Ukraine with more than 50 attack drones” and last week dropped “more than 900 bombs, about 30 missiles, and almost 500 ‘Shaheds’ on various regions of Ukraine”.

“All these attacks would not have been possible if we had enough support from the world in important areas,” he said.

He said this included providing Ukraine with long-range missiles and “really effective” sanctions to prevent Russia from importing critical components for drone and missile production.

“Ukraine deserves the same security as all our partners in the free world.”

Moldova’s pro-EU president Maia Sandu scored a second victory in a pivotal presidential runoff against a Russia-friendly opponent, in a race overshadowed by claims of Russian meddling.

With almost 99 percent of the votes counted in the second round of the presidential election held yesterday, Ms Sandu has 55 percent of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission, compared to 45 percent for Alexandr Stoianoglo, the former public prosecutor she supported. by the pro-Russian Socialist Party.

The result will be a major relief for the pro-Western government, which supported Sandu’s candidacy, and push for closer Western ties on Moldova’s path to the EU.

“Moldova, you won! Today, dear Moldovans, you have given us a lesson in democracy, which deserves to be written in the history books. Today, you have saved Moldova!” Ms Sandu spoke after claiming victory after midnight.

Russian forces have taken control of Vyshneve in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, the defense ministry said on Sunday.

This would be the third village captured in two days, if the Russian claims, reported by the state news agency RIA, are true.

Russia yesterday claimed to have captured the villages of Kurakhove and Kvartsytne – formerly Pershotravneve – there.

The report has not been independently verified. But if true, they represent the main steps to attack Russia in the east.

American-funded mobile anti-aircraft units have shot down more than 200 Russian drones since January this year, US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said.

“The Mobile Fire Team is saving lives with its successful work protecting people and critical infrastructure attacked by Russia,” he said in a post on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his allies to stop “watching” and take action before North Korean troops stationed in Russia reach the battlefield.

Mr. Zelensky raised the prospect of a preemptive Ukrainian attack on the camp where North Korean troops are being trained, and said Kyiv knows the location. But he said Ukraine could not do so without permission from its allies to use Western-made long-range weapons to target targets inside Russia.

“But … America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukraine as well,” Mr. Zelensky said.

Debris from a damaged Russian drone caused park and grass fires in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital’s mayor said today, in Moscow’s third drone attack on the city in as many nights.

“Emergency crews have been dispatched,” mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.

Drone debris caused a fire in the Muromets park in the Desnianskyi district in northeast Kyiv and burned some grass on the Dnipro River embankment across from the park.

Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s second-largest city and surrounding areas, killing at least five people, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Mr. Syniehubov said a Russian-guided bomb hit a supermarket in Kharkiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district, near the city center.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that the supermarket is next to the house. Earlier attacks had hit forested areas in the city, he said.

Russian airstrikes in Kyiv damaged buildings, roads and several power lines in the city, the capital’s military government said on Sunday, after the military said air defenses were trying to repel drone attacks.

There were no injuries in the attack, which came in waves and approached the city from different directions, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app.

Popko said there was no fire, amending the administration’s previous account that emergency crews had been sent to the site of the fire in the Shevchenkivskyi district which he said had been caused by an attack.

It was the second Russian drone strike in Kyiv in as many nights. According to preliminary information, all the attack drones were destroyed, Popko added. It was not immediately clear how many drones were launched in Kyiv.

Falling drone debris damaged the entrances and windows of at least five buildings in the Shevchenkivskyi and Holosiivskyi districts, including a dormitory and windows in an office building, Popko said.

The military posted several photos on Telegram showing the entrance to the building, broken windows in others and power lines lying in the street.

Reuters witnesses reported hearing an explosion and seeing plumes of smoke rising from residential buildings.

The Shevchenkivskyi district near the center of Kyiv is a busy area with a cluster of universities, restaurants and tourist attractions. Holosiivskyi district is home to a large national park. Both districts are located on the west bank of the Dnipro River.

Kyiv, the surrounding area and most of the eastern half of Ukraine were intermittently under alert for air strikes at night, according to alerts issued on social media by the Ukrainian military.