Russia said Thursday that it repelled a missile attack in the Volgograd region but that debris ignited a fire at a military facility and prompted the evacuation of a nearby village. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of launching strikes that undermine ongoing negotiations to end the nearly four-year-long war. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
WhatsApp says Russia ‘attempted to fully block’ app
WhatsApp said Wednesday that Russia “attempted to fully block” the messaging app in the country to push users to a competing state-controlled service, potentially affecting 100 million people.
Moscow has been trying to nudge Russians to use a more tightly controlled domestic online service.
It has threatened a host of internet platforms with forced slowdowns or outright bans if they do not comply with Russian laws, including those requiring data on Russian users to be stored inside the country.
Russia says village evacuated after military facility hit by debris
Russia said Thursday that it repelled a missile attack in Volgograd region but that debris ignited a fire at a military facility and prompted the evacuation of a nearby village.
“Air defense units of the Russian Ministry of Defence repelled a missile attack on Volgograd region,” regional Governor Andrey Bocharov posted on Telegram.
“Falling debris caused a fire on the grounds of a Ministry of Defence facility near the village of Kotluban,” he added, without elaborating on the site.
While there were no were no casualties, he said evacuation orders were being carried out in the nearby village of Kotluban “to ensure civilian safety from the threat of detonation during firefighting”.
Yesterday’s key events:
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Ukrainian capital Kyiv came under a “massive” attack from Russian missiles early on Thursday, with various buildings hit in the assault, officials said.
- The EU parliament on Wednesday approved a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine, providing a financial lifeline to cash-strapped Kyiv four years into Russia’s invasion.
- Ukrainian drones strike Lukoil oil refinery in Russia’s Volgograd region.
- Ukraine says will hold a presidential election only when the security situation in the war with Russia makes it feasible.
- UK pledges $205 million to send US weapons to Ukraine.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, Reuters)
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