Aerial strikes on Russian and Ukrainian border cities have escalated, resulting in significant loss of life and property.
On Friday, a Russian aerial strike on Kharkiv killed seven people, including a 14-year-old girl, and wounded 77 others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western backers to increase support and provide long-range capabilities to combat the strikes.
Across the border, Russia reported that Ukraine had fired cluster munitions on the city of Belgorod, killing at least five and wounding 37 civilians. Both Belgorod and Kharkiv have been repeatedly hit with aerial strikes throughout the war.
In a significant military development, Ukraine’s air force commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, has been dismissed. President Zelensky stated that the decision was made to strengthen Ukraine’s military leadership. Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko has temporarily assumed the role of overall commander.
Both sides claim to have made advances on the battlefield. Moscow claims to have captured three more villages in eastern Ukraine, while Ukraine reports advances in Russia’s western Kursk region, capturing 100 settlements and over 1,200 square kilometers of territory since August 6.
Ukraine has issued a plea for Mongolia to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit next week. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes, and Mongolia is technically
