Help urgently needed; Shooting at the Ukrainian border; Military equipment destroyed

Help urgently needed; Shooting at the Ukrainian border; Military equipment destroyed

Ukrainian officials said today that Russian forces had launched a comprehensive attack on the Azovstal steel and iron works plant near Mariupol.

As the commander of the Azov regiment, Denys Prokopenko, said, the Ukrainian forces inside the factory have been waging "difficult, bloody battles" for the second day, reports the BBC.

"I am proud of my soldiers who are making superhuman efforts to curb the pressure of the enemy. The situation is extremely difficult," Prokopenko said in a short video message published on the Telegram.

Russia's most modern tank destroyed

The first Russian T-90M tank is destroyed within days after its much-advertised deployment to Ukraine’s Kharkiv District.

Negotiations are tough

Russian MP who took part in the negotiations with Ukraine, Leonid Slutsky, assessed today that the negotiations were "rather tough" and accused the representatives of Kyiv of "retreating" after reaching an agreement.

"I am one of the four negotiators from the Russian side, however, it is difficult to negotiate. The Ukrainian colleagues agree, and then take their words back," Slutsky said, TASS reports.

Attack on an oil depot

Shooting at the border

Shots were heard near the border of the self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria with Ukraine today, TSV television reported, referring to sources from the law enforcement services.

The report states that the residents of Pervomaisk reported that the shots were fired near the Kuchurgan checkpoint. The source said that the shooting happened inside the Ukrainian territory, near the Pavlovka settlement.

Ukrainian military equipment destroyed

Poland: Ukraine urgently needs help

On the eve of today's International Donors' Conference in Warsaw, the Polish government announced that Ukraine's needs are enormous and that millions of Ukrainians urgently need help, reports the AP.

Despite the funds already donated, Ukraine's needs are huge, primarily due to the large scale of war destruction, said the Polish government, which is hosting the virtual conference. Sweden, which is hosting the gathering along with Poland, said the conference aims to mobilize continued financial support and respond to the humanitarian needs of the Ukrainian people.

"Non-stop" shelling of Azovstal plant

Intense attacks continued on the besieged Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol overnight, an official said.

"As of now, if there is hell in the world, it is in Azovstal," said Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the Mariupol mayor on Thursday morning.

"There is non-stop shelling and assault, even at night with the adjustment of fire from drones. In some areas, hostilities are already beyond the fence of the plant," he said.

Three Ukrainian aircrafts shot down

Russia's air defense shot down three Ukrainian Su-24, Su-27 and Su-25 aircrafts, as well as 14 drones, Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said at a morning briefing. "In the area of Kirovohrad, aircraft at the Kanatovo military airport were destroyed, as well as ammunition and fuel storage in the Mykolaiv Oblast".