These images show a destroyed building near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and rescue workers sifting through rubble after Russia launched a kamikaze drone attack on a school near Kyiv.
The images were obtained from the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine on Wednesday, 22nd March, along with a statement saying: “On the night of 22nd March, in the city of Rzhyshchiv, in the Kyiv region, as a result of an enemy attack, the 4th and 5th floors of two five-storey dormitories and a three-storey educational building of a professional lyceum were partially destroyed, followed by burning.
“At 06:50am, the fire was extinguished in an area of 330 square metres.
“As of 07:am, three people had died, two people were injured and 1 person was rescued. [There are] probably four people under the rubble.
“A hundred and eleven people and 28 units were involved at the scene, including 95 people and 20 units from the State Emergency Service. Equipment, including a mobile rescue centre for rapid response and two canine crews [were deployed].
“A mobile operative group is working at the scene. Debris clearance and search and rescue operations are ongoing.”
Ukrainian media said that the attack was the result of Russia launching Iranian-made kamikaze drones.
A statement from Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at 7:15am this morning (Wednesday, 22nd March) said: “On the night [to] 22nd March 2023, around 11:30pm, Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made kamikaze drones of the Shahed-136/131 type.
“In total, 21 enemy UAVs were launched from the northern direction (Bryansk region of the Russian Federation).
“The forces and means of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed 16 out of 21 attack UAVs, mainly in the area of responsibility of the Air Command ‘Centre’ of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“Glory to Ukraine!
“Together to victory!”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 392nd day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 22nd March 2023, Russia had lost about 167,490 personnel, 3,557 tanks, 6,887 armoured combat vehicles, 2,589 artillery units, 509 multiple launch rocket systems, 272 air defence systems, 305 warplanes, 290 helicopters, 2,183 drones, 909 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,434 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 270 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met for a second day of talks in Moscow, with both leaders signing a number of “strategic cooperation” documents and Putin calling the talks “successful and constructive”.
Putin said that China-Russia relations were at their “highest point” in the “whole history of our two countries”.
Xi said that China had an “impartial position” on the conflict in Ukraine and supported peace and dialogue, adding that discussions with Putin had been “open and friendly”.
John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, said that the United States does not view China as capable of being an impartial mediator between Russia and Ukraine and that it “keeps parroting the Russian propaganda”.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that China join a Ukrainian peace formula to end Russia’s war in his country.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has cautioned China against supplying Russia with lethal weaponry.
Stoltenberg said: “We haven’t seen any proof that China is delivering lethal weapons to Russia but we have seen some signs that this has been a request from Russia, and that this is an issue that is considered in Beijing by the Chinese authorities.”
Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of Japan, has met with Zelensky in Kyiv. Kishida said that he was “outraged by the cruelty” while visiting a church near the Ukrainian capital and while paying respect to the victims of atrocities committed by Russian forces against Ukrainian civilians.
The Japanese leader’s visit coincided with Russia flying two nuclear-capable strategic bombers over the Sea of Japan for over seven hours on Tuesday, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Putin has said that Russia would be “forced to react” if the United Kingdom sends ammunition made with depleted uranium to Ukraine. The Russian leader accused the West of deploying weaponry with “nuclear components”.
But the UK has challenged Putin’s assertions and confirmed that it would be providing Kyiv with the depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds along with its Challenger 2 tanks.
The British Ministry of Defence said in a statement that depleted uranium “is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons”.
The UK MoD added: “The British Army has used depleted uranium in its armour-piercing shells the decades.”
The statement also said: “Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to disinform.
“Independent research by scientists from groups such as the Royal Society has assessed that any impact to personal health and the environment from the use of depleted uranium munitions is likely to be low.”
US officials have said that they are speeding up deliveries of Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine by providing a refurbished older model that is faster to make ready.
The US originally planned to send 31 of its M1A2 Abrams tanks, which is a newer model, but it is now going to send M1A1 versions of the tank to Ukraine in a bid to speed up providing Ukraine with armour.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukrainian Ground Forces, has said that his country’s forces are holding the line in the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut.
Russian forces are reportedly attempting to advance to the city centre, with the Syrskyi saying that there was intense fighting along the eastern frontline.
