live blog
The International Atomic Energy Agency has so far found “no evidence of explosives or mines” at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. After the Russian attack on a block of flats in Lviv, the death toll has risen to ten. All developments in the live blog.
Four days before the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, the Bundeswehr’s “Patriot” anti-aircraft missiles, deployed to protect the meeting, are ready. According to information from the dpa news agency, the three combat squadrons reported full operational readiness to NATO today. With the weapon systems and around 250 soldiers, the German Air Force provides protection against ballistic missiles, but also against aircraft and cruise missiles. The alliance is thus taking account of the intensified security situation, without there being any specific indications of an attack.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is making “progress” in inspecting several parts of Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian soldiers. That’s what IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said today during a visit to Tokyo. “We were able to complete the visits to the cooling pools and other locations.” “No evidence of explosives or mines” was found. According to Grossi, IAEA employees have not yet been able to inspect the roofs of the facility. “I’m pretty confident that we will get this approval,” continued the IAEA chief. “This is a combat zone, an active war zone, so sometimes it can take a day or two to get those permits.”
The situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant had triggered great international concern in the past few days. After repeated warnings from Russia and Ukraine of alleged attack plans by the other side, the IAEA on Wednesday requested extended access to the plant to check whether there were mines or explosives on the power plant site.
Ukrainian rescuers have pulled another body from the rubble of an apartment building in Lviv. This increases the number of dead after the Russian missile attack to ten. This was announced by Mayor Andriy Sadowyj on Telegram.
The upper floors of a large block of flats with multiple entrances were completely destroyed by the missile impact. According to Ukrainian sources, 35 buildings were damaged. A mourning was declared in the city for two days.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wants to draw attention to China and Russia’s activities in Asia, which Japan sees as a threat to global security, at the NATO leaders’ meeting in Lithuania on Tuesday. Last year, Kishida urged “like-minded nations” to stick together while warning that a Ukraine-like conflict, which Russia calls a special operation, could erupt in East Asia if China attempts to seize control of self-governing Taiwan.
According to media reports, the United States wants to deliver controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine.
During the night, the EU agreed on a plan to encourage the defense industry to expand its production more quickly.
According to the US Presidential Office and the US State Department, the US government has neither sanctioned nor supported informal meetings between senior ex-government officials and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other Russian participants. “I want to be clear that these discussions were not sponsored or encouraged by us, and we do not actively support them in any way,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told CBS News. “As the President said: Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine”.
NBC News previously reported that the former government officials met with Lavrov in New York in April to hold talks to end the Ukraine war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has admitted that his army’s counter-offensive is “not progressing quickly” – but has assured that Kiev’s troops are still advancing. “The offensive is not fast, that’s for sure,” Zelenskyj told journalists in Prague after a meeting with Czech head of state Petr Pavel. “But we’re still advancing and not retreating like the Russians are doing,” he added.
With a view to the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania, Zelenskyy confirmed that his country wanted to receive an “invitation” to join at the meeting. “We need honesty in our relations with NATO”. It was time to demonstrate “the courage and strength of this alliance”.
After the Russian rocket attack on a residential area in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv (Lemberg), the death toll has risen to six. Late that evening, authorities reported that another woman had been pulled from the rubble of a destroyed building. According to official information, around 40 people were injured. Search and rescue operations continued.
There is information that people are still trapped under the rubble, it said. Two houses are said to have been completely destroyed. According to the information, more than 60 people were evacuated from the destroyed houses. Seven people were rescued from the rubble. Overall, damage to 35 buildings was mentioned. A mourning was declared in the city for two days.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has arrived in the Czech Republic for talks with his counterpart Pavel. Romania wants to train pilots from NATO partner countries and Ukraine on F16 fighter jets. Thursday’s live blog to read.