The Kyiv Independent
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Bloomberg: Russia trying to force evacuation of Kharkiv.
Ukrainian and Western officials believe that Russia has increased the intensity of its attacks on Kharkiv to try to force an evacuation of civilians from Ukraine's second-largest city, Bloomberg reported on April 16.
Russia recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv, which had a population of 1.4 million in 2021, with the use of missiles, glide bombs, and drones, destroying energy infrastructure and killing civilians.
Russian forces failed to take Kharkiv in the first weeks of the full-scale invasion, despite the fact the city lies less than 30 kilometers from the Russian border.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 6 that "Kharkiv is protected" amid news that Russia may attempt to launch another offensive.
Ukraine's military intelligence called the news of a potential attack on Kharkiv "part of a Russian psychological operation ," adding that there were no signs of Moscow preparing new attack formations to carry out a ground offensive.
"U.S. and other Western officials agree that Russia doesn't have the capability to attack Kharkiv without a major replenishment of Russian troops, according to people familiar with the discussions."
Russia is instead making a "coordinated effort to cut off supplies and create conditions that make the city uninhabitable, Bloomberg said, citing officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"The damage is extensive enough, and the attacks so unrelenting, that authorities will struggle to restore capacity before the cold sets in next winter," Bloomberg said.
More than $10 billion is needed to rebuild everything that Russian forces have damaged or destroyed in Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said earlier in April.
Terekhov then told The Economist that Russia aims to make the city uninhabitable for civilians, but that Kharkiv was in a worse situation at the start of the full-scale war, when only 300,000 residents remained.
Russia to increase arms production, speed up weapons deliveries, Shoigu says.
Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered for an increase in weapons productions, with the goal of delivering weaponry to the front quicker, Russia's Defense Ministry shared on May 1.
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones hit oil refineries in two Russian regions.
Key updates on May 1:Ukrainian drones attack oil refineries in Russia's Ryazan, Voronezh oblastsNorway to allocate over $630 million for Ukrainian air defense, ammunitionDeath toll of Russia's April 29 strike on Odesa rises to 6Latvian F...
Governor: Russian missile attack on Odesa injures at least 13 people.
Russia launched ballistic missiles at the city of Odesa on the evening of May 1, injuring at least 13 people, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said.
US sanctions Russia, Chinese companies for war effort support.
The U.S. imposed new sanctions on May 1 against nearly 300 companies and individuals in Russia and third countries, including China, for aiding Moscow's war effort, the Treasury Department announced.
Ukraine Business Roundup: No more border blockades, for now.
The following is the April 30, 2024 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here.Polish farmers finally ended their protests at the Hreb...
Herds of endangered hippos trapped in mud in drought-hit Botswana - VOA News.
Herds of endangered hippos are stuck in drying ponds in Botswana's northwest as the El Nino-induced drought takes its toll on wildlife. In Botswana, home to one of the world’s largest hippopotamus populations, around 500 hippos are stranded as bli...
Secretary of State Blinken leads new push to reach a hostage release deal in Gaza.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls for a cease-fire in Gaza while on his seventh trip to the Middle East. Blinken also urging Hamas to accept Israel’s latest proposal to release hostages. Subscribe to ABC News on YouTube: Watch 24/7 coverage ...
BREAKING: 3 officers killed while serving warrant in North Carolina.
At least three officers in a U.S. Marshals task force were fatally shot while serving a warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Officials said the suspect is dead. » Subscribe to NBC News: NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful ...
Georgians protest «foreign agents» bill - DW News
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Extreme heatwave hits Philippines - DW News
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Fire rips through building in Odesa, Ukraine, after Russian missile strike - VOA News.
A fire broke out at a turreted Gothic-style building in Odesa Monday after a Russian missile attack hit the southern port-city killing at least four people. » Subscribe to VOA News: » Watch more VOA News video: Voice of America (VOA) is the larges...