What is happening in Ukraine today and how are countries around the world reacting? Read live updates on Vladimir Putin and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday his country would double financial aid to Ukraine to $600 million to assist the country badly damaged by Russia’s aggression.
Kishida said Japan will provide an additional $300 million through the World Bank to help Ukraine, which is in financial difficulty due to Russia’s invasion.
The announcement comes shortly before Japan welcomes US President Joe Biden and two other leaders to a regional strategic framework known as the Quad Summit and bilateral meetings next week when Kishida attends the meeting. expected to emphasize Japan’s support for Ukraine.
Japan quickly joined the United States and the other Group of Seven countries and Europe in sanctions against Moscow over the war in Ukraine, out of concern that Russia’s move could prompt China to join the zone. this area.
The new commitment, combined with the $300 million Japan promised last month, brings Tokyo’s total contribution to $600 million.
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MOSCOW – A governor of a province in western Russia says a civilian has been killed by cross-border shelling from Ukraine.
Kursk Governor Roman Starovoit said shelling in Ukraine early Thursday hit a driver who drove his truck to a distillery in the village of Tetkino.
Starovoit said several others were injured in Thursday’s shelling.
Russian authorities have repeatedly reported damage and casualties as a result of Ukrainian shelling on border areas.
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KYIV, Ukraine – A regional governor in Ukraine said four civilians were killed by the latest Russian shelling.
Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said they were killed on Wednesday when Russian troops bombarded the town of Sievierodonetsk. He said three other residents were injured.
Haidai said Russian shelling continued early Thursday. Sievierodonetsk is at the heart of the fighting in the east, where Russian forces are trying to attack amid fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Separatist authorities in the Donetsk region bordering Luhansk in eastern Ukraine say two civilians have been killed and five others injured in Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours.
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WASHINGTON – The Senate confirmed Bridget Brink late Wednesday as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, filling the position as officials plan to bring American diplomats back to Kyiv in the ongoing fight against Russian invasion.
The veteran diplomat, who has spent most of her career in the shadow of the former Soviet Union, was nominated to the post by President Joe Biden last month.
Brink was confirmed unanimously by the Senate without a formal roll call vote.
American diplomats evacuated Kyiv when the war began three months ago, but Brink told senators during a confirmation hearing earlier this month that she would work to reopen the embassy.
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KYIV, Ukraine – The military junta of the region including Melitopol further reported on Wednesday actions of resistance against Russian troops that have occupied the southern city since the beginning of the war.
It said a grenade exploded near the Russian command post, followed by an exchange of fire. No casualties were reported.
On Tuesday, regional authorities said Ukrainian resistance fighters had killed several senior Russian officers in the occupied city. The report cannot be independently verified.
Also on Wednesday, an armored train carrying Russian troops and ammunition capsized in Melitopol, causing the ammunition depot to explode, the regional government said on Telegram.
It said the Russian military failed to maintain the tracks while the trains were overloaded, and that due to negligence and “with the help” of resistance fighters, the armored train derailed.
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