Two children among 18 killed after missile attack in Odessa

Russia increases its fury against Ukraine, after its troops were expelled, according to kyiv, from the strategic Snake Island, in the Black Sea; although Moscow maintains that they left the islet as a gesture of “goodwill”.

In the early hours of this Friday, July 1, Russian missile attacks on residential areas in the town of Serhiivka, near the port city of Odessa, and belonging to the region of the same name, killed at least 18 people. Most of the fatalities, including two children, were in an apartment building, authorities confirmed.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Presidency’s office reported that a series of Russian attacks in the past 24 hours have also killed civilians in the east of the country: at least four in the northeastern Kharkiv region and another four in Donetsk province.

These are the main news of the day:

• 07:21 (BOG) Moscow denies fatal attacks on civilians near Odessa

After the Ukrainian authorities reported the death of at least 18 people as a result of missile attacks by Russian troops, the Kremlin denied any responsibility for what happened.

“I would like to remind you of the president’s words that the Russian Armed Forces do not work with civilian targets,” Russian Executive spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a telephone press conference.

• 06:35 (BOG) Ukraine accuses Russia of killing at least eight civilians in Kharkiv and Donetsk

Ukraine’s Executive office noted that a series of attacks by Moscow troops in the past 24 hours have also killed civilians in the east of the country. Four in the northeastern Kharkiv region and another four in Donetsk province.

In eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin military is continuing its push to encircle Lysychansk, the last stronghold of resistance by local forces in Luhansk, one of two provinces that make up the Donbass region.

Lugansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said the foreign military was trying to encircle the city of Lysychansk and fighting for control of an oil refinery on the outskirts of the town.

“The shelling of the city is very intense (…) The occupants are destroying one house after another with heavy artillery and other weapons. Lysychansk residents hide in basements almost all day,” Haidai described to the AP agency.

The official noted that the offensive had so far failed to cut Ukraine’s supply lines, although the main road leading west was not being used due to constant Russian bombing.

However, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov noted that separatists and Russian troops in Lugansk had taken control of the refinery, as well as a mine and a gelatin factory in Lysychansk, “over the past three years.” days”.

• 6:10 (BOG) Zelensky urges early EU accession

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has again urged the EU to annex his country soon. “Our path to membership shouldn’t take years or decades. We have to get over this road quickly. Make our part of the work perfect. To allow our friends in the European Union to make another historic decision for us with the same speed and in a consolidated manner,” the president said.

Zelensky reported that his nation is now exporting electrical power to the EU, specifically to Romania, something he underlined as “another significant step” on its path to the bloc.

“Let me remind you that the linking of our country to the common energy system of the EU was already carried out after the war began. Ukraine is now doing things that seemed impossible before (…) Thanks to Ukrainian electricity, a significant part of the Russian gas used by European consumers can be replaced. Therefore, it is not just a question of export earnings for us, but a question of security for all of Europe,” said the head of state.

kyiv reached an agreement in mid-March to join the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) as an observer after its network was linked to the EU’s.

• 5:43 (BOG) Von der Leyen calls on Ukraine to reform anti-corruption on “long road” to EU membership

In a speech delivered via video link to the Ukrainian Parliament, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen congratulated the country on its candidacy for European Union (EU) membership, but stressed that it will not be soon. .

“There is a long way to go, but Europe will be by your side at every step, for as long as it takes, from these dark days of war to the moment they walk through the gate into our European Union,” he said.

As part of the process, the diplomatic leader urged kyiv to speed up anti-corruption reform.

“You have created an impressive anti-corruption machine (…) But now these institutions need teeth and the right people in high-level positions,” he said.

EU leaders last week granted Ukraine candidate status to join the bloc, formally opening a process that is expected to take years before it becomes a member of the union that now comprises 27 countries.

• 5:25 (BOG) Missile attack leaves at least 18 dead in Odessa

Russian missile strikes, according to kyiv, on residential areas around Odessa, a coastal city in southern Ukraine, left at least 18 people dead, including two children. This is what the most recent update from regional governor Maksym Marchenko throws at it.

A video of the attack carried out before dawn on July 1 showed the charred remains of buildings in the small affected town of Serhiivka, located about 50 kilometers southwest of the city of Odessa.

The Ukrainian Presidency office specified that three X-22 missiles fired by Russian bombers hit an apartment building and two camps. Most of the victims were in the residential building.

In addition to the deceased, the authorities identified 31 people who were injured and taken to hospitals, including four minors and a pregnant woman.

At least eight more people were rescued from the rubble, including three children. Salvage operations continue.

As published by Marchenko, through Telegram, the assault was launched from the Black Sea, in the Belgorod-Dniester district of the Odessa region. This attack came just hours after Moscow troops withdrew from the strategic Snake Island they had controlled at the start of the invasion, also in the Black Sea. An action celebrated by Ukraine as a victory.

With Reuters, AP and EFE