Ukraine war: A lowdown on intensifying Russian attack in different parts
On Sunday, the Russian forces launched an airstrike at the Yavoriv military base, which is near the Polish border and a key hub for cooperation with NATO nations.
With the war in Ukraine entering day 19, hopes for peace have diluted as Moscow continues to step up offensive. On Sunday, the Russian forces launched an airstrike at the Yavoriv military base, which is near the Polish border and a key hub for cooperation with NATO nations. Thirty-five people were reported dead and 134 were wounded. While Russia said that 180 foreign mercenaries were killed in Sunday's airstrike, according to reports, Ukraine denied the claim, calling it "pure propaganda". Defence ministry spokesperson Markiyan Lubkivsky said that "there are still no foreign casualties confirmed in the attack".
Click here for full coverage of the Ukraine war
As Moscow and Kyiv are set to meet for the fourth round of peace talks, here are some of the areas in Ukraine where Russia has stepped up the offensive:
1. Mariupol
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine on February 24, more than 2,100 people in the strategic port city of Mariupol have died. The city is witnessing a "humanitarian catastrophe", lacking water or heating and running out of food. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the city will face the 'worst-case scenario' if warring parties don't urgently reach a "concrete humanitarian agreement". The city has been hit by around 100 aerial bombs, reports say, with the latest bombing from a maternity and children's hospital that killed three people including a child and injured 17.
2. Mykolaiv
Mykolaiv is located in the southern part of Ukraine near the Black Sea. According to the latest reports, nine people were killed in Russian bombings on Sunday. Regional governor Vitaliy Kim had earlier said that the Russian forces bombed a gas turbine factory in the city. Mykolaiv has been under Russian attack for days and several residents have fled the city amid heavy bombardment. News agency AFP reported that a cancer treatment hospital and an eye clinic in the city came under fire on Saturday.
Also Read| Russia widens attack on Ukraine cities: 5 videos that capture plight
3. Volnovakha
Russian forces on Saturday destroyed the Eastern Ukrainian town of Volnovakha, after days of bombing. However, the fighting for the territory continues to prevent a Russian encirclement, Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said.
4. Kyiv
The capital city of Ukraine has been the most important area of the ongoing war. Russian forces have already surrounded Kyiv and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned that they will have to face a fight to the death if they try to occupy the capital.
Kyiv has been hit by frequent bombings and Moscow is continuing attacks in areas where the Ukrainian government was trying to evacuate people and bring aid through humanitarian corridors.
On Saturday morning, Russian rockets destroyed an airbase near and hit an ammunition depot near Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region.
(With agency inputs)
