WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russian drone attack kills two in Ukraine's Kharkiv, officials say

Russian drones struck a military hospital, shopping centre, apartment blocks and other targets in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, late on Saturday, killing two people and injuring at least 25, local officials and the Ukrainian military said.

"According to preliminary information, there were injuries among the servicemen undergoing treatment in the medical centre," the military's General Staff said on the Telegram messaging app.

It denounced the "deliberate, targeted shelling" of the facility which it said "added to the long list of vile and cynical crimes committed by the Russians since the beginning of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine".

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said one of the dead had been pulled out from under rubble. He put the overall number of injured at 27.

Terekhov said an office building was also among the targets, with one drone triggering a fire.

Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor, said 25 people were hurt, including a 15-year-old girl who is in serious condition.

Prosecutors, quoted by public broadcaster Suspilne, put the number of injured at 30. Suspilne posted photos of rescue teams in protective equipment sifting through rubble as well as piles of twisted metal and construction materials outside buildings.

Kharkiv, located in northeastern Ukraine, resisted capture in the early weeks of Russia's February 2022 invasion.

But as Russian forces focused their attention on capturing large swathes of eastern Ukraine, the city has been a frequent target of air attacks.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Thousands march in Paris against military aid to Ukraine

Thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Paris on Saturday, protesting French President Emmanuel Macron’s and NATO’s militaristic approach to the Ukraine conflict.

On Wednesday, Macron announced a new €2 billion ($2.16 billion) military aid package for Ukraine, after weeks of attempting to drum up support for his initiative to send Western troops as peacekeepers to the country. The new arms will include surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles and drones, the French leader said.

Saturday’s anti-war rally was organized by former right-wing National Rally politician Florian Philippot and his party, The Patriots.

Thousands of protesters could be seen marching through the French capital, chanting slogans such as “Macron, we don’t want your war!”and “Let's quickly leave NATO!” in video captured by RT.

Many could also be seen waving placards with the motto “Macron, we will not die for Ukraine.”

“A mad crowd for #Peace… Thousands and thousands of French people are shouting ‘Macron, resign!’ in the streets of Paris right now!” Philippot wrote on X on Saturday.

The Patriots protested in the French capital earlier this month after Macron proposed deploying France’s nuclear weapons in other European allied states, citing uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to the continent.

On Thursday, following an international summit in Paris, Macron announced a French-British plan to push for the deployment of troops to Ukraine as a “reassurance force” in the event of a ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow. Macron first touched on the idea of sending Western troops into Ukraine last February.

Russia has categorically ruled out agreeing to NATO troops being deployed to the conflict zone. Troops from the US-led military bloc, even under the guise of peacekeepers, would amount to direct NATO participation in the conflict, according to Moscow.

Reuters/RT