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10:24
Two killed in Russian airstrike in Kharkiv
At least two people have been killed and six injured in a Russian airstrike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. This was reported by Ihor Terechov, the mayor of the city. More possible victims are still being sought.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia used ballistic missiles and so-called hover bombs in the attack. These are heavy explosives that are fitted with wings and a navigation system and are dropped by bombers. The Russian army previously used this weapon during the capture of the city of Avdiivka in February. The bombs can cause enormous damage and are difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to shoot down.
Russia has been carrying out attacks on Kharkiv almost daily for weeks, also regularly deploying hover bombs. With the constant attacks, Russia is trying to make life impossible in Ukraine’s second city. Moreover, there are fears that Russia will launch an offensive towards Kharkiv this summer. Late last month, Russia destroyed the city’s largest power plant, leaving residents with power for only a few hours a day. Last week the Russians hit the Kharkiv television tower, which was damaged beyond repair.
Daan de Vries
Read more about the hover bombs that Russia is increasingly using here: Russia is converting more and more old, ‘dumb’ bombs into guided weapons – with success
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08:06
Since the start of the war, 30 Ukrainian men have died in illegal attempts to cross the border
Since the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, thirty Ukrainian men have been killed in an attempt to leave the country illegally through the mountains or across border rivers. This is what Andri Demchenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian Border Service, said. As long as martial law is declared, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine.
More than two-thirds of the victims fell in the Tisza River, which forms part of the Ukrainian-Romanian border. According to the border service, at least 24 men died there. Men also attempt to make the dangerous crossing on other unguarded stretches of the border with Romania and Moldova almost every day. Every day, the border guard stops an average of about ten men, Demchenko said earlier this month.
Abroad, Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 no longer have access to consular assistance since last week, a measure aimed at discouraging men from fleeing the mobilization. For example, they can no longer renew their Ukrainian passport at a Ukrainian embassy.
Daan de Vries
Also read this report that foreign editor Tom Vennink made earlier this year at the Tisza: Better to cross the dangerous border river than to the front
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11:59 PM, Yesterday
Welcome to the live blog of Tuesday April 30
This was the most important news of Monday April 29:
• At least four people have been killed and 28 injured in a rocket attack on the Ukrainian city of Odesa. The attack took place on a university building. A former member of parliament for the now banned pro-Russian Party of Regions is also said to have been injured in the attack.
• Turkey supports the candidacy of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte as Secretary General of NATO. With the Turkish commitment, Rutte has the green light from 29 of the 32 member states.
• Polish demonstrators lifted all blockades with the Ukrainian border this morning after a few months. Since last year, Polish farmers have been protesting against ‘unfair competition’ from Ukrainian colleagues by blocking roads to the border with the neighboring country.
Read Monday’s full live blog here.
