Russia-Ukraine war news: Russian missile attack on Lviv kills at least 4
Ukraine live briefing: Zelensky asks Biden for NATO invite; four killed in Lviv attack The scene at a residential building in Lviv, Ukraine, that was hit in a Russian missile strike on Thursday. (Roman Baluk/Reuters)
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on President Biden to invite his country into NATO’s fold “now,” in an interview with CNN that aired Wednesday evening ahead of the bloc’s July 11 summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Calling Biden the “decision-maker” on Ukraine’s NATO fate, Zelensky said an invitation would invigorate his forces even if the membership happens later.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, requested additional access to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine amid tit-for-tat accusations by Kyiv and Moscow over a possible false-flag attack at the site.
Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe.
Key developments
At least four people were killed and 32 injured in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv after a Russian rocket attack, the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs said on the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Telegram after explosions rocked the city early Thursday. More than 50 apartments were destroyed, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on Telegram , calling it the largest attack on civilian infrastructure in the city since the invasion began.
Zelensky told CNN that entrenched Russian defenses had slowed down Ukraine’s counteroffensive. He added that he had wanted to launch the operation He added that he had wanted to launch the operation “much earlier” but that Ukraine was hampered by a lack of “relevant weapons.” Speedier arms deliveries from Western nations, he said, would have enabled Ukraine to start the counteroffensive earlier.
The IAEA did not discover mines or explosives during recent inspections at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine, at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine, it said Wednesday . In a statement, it requested further access, including to the rooftops of some reactors, to complete its review. Russia accused Ukraine of planning to attack the plant “ using a warhead stuffed with nuclear waste ” — an accusation denied by Kyiv, which earlier alleged that Russian forces had placed “ objects resembling explosives ” on the roof of the plant.
The United States supports Sweden’s membership to NATO , Biden told Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in a meeting at the White House on Wednesday. Secretary of State , Biden told Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in a meeting at the White House on Wednesday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called his Turkish counterpart the same day to bolster support on the matter. Ankara opposes Sweden’s candidacy over what it sees as the country’s support of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Turkey considers a terrorist group. Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled that a Quran-burning protest in Sweden, allowed by police, would fuel Ankara’s opposition.
An ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin was appointed to lead the country’s state news agency, Tass, as Moscow tightens its control over local media. Andrei Kondrashov, a former election spokesman for Putin, will lead Russia’s oldest news agency, according to as Moscow tightens its control over local media. Andrei Kondrashov, a former election spokesman for Putin, will lead Russia’s oldest news agency, according to Reuters
Fierce fighting continues in the Russian-held town of Bakhmut, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Thursday on Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Thursday on Telegram , adding that Ukraine’s push in the east was going strong. Some Russian units in some areas on the front line have begun to vacate their positions, she said, without providing evidence.
From our correspondents
Kremlin warns of ‘sabotage’ at Ukraine nuclear plant under Russian control: The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine — seized by Russian forces shortly after the invasion — is at the center of a growing spat between Moscow and Kyiv, raising fears of a disaster, report Fredrick Kunkle, Francesca Ebel and Natalia Abbakumova.
While both sides dialed up the rhetoric, an analysis published Tuesday by the Institute for the Study of War said it was unlikely that Moscow would create a nuclear disaster. The escalation in provocative statements is probably intended to accuse Ukraine of irresponsible behavior near the plant as NATO readies to meet next week, the D.C.-based think tank said.
Source: The Washington Post
